jim henson

This is a very difficult time to be in the Church. More and more we are being made aware of the horrible failings of those within the Church who we are meant to trust.

Thursday morning I was on Universalis, ready to read the morning prayer, when "something" told me to read the Mass readings instead. The first reading from Hebrews stood out.

To suit us, the ideal high priest would have to be holy, innocent and uncontaminated, beyond the influence of sinners, and raised up above the heavens; one who would not need to offer sacrifices every day, as the other high priests do for their own sins and then for those of the people, because he has done this once and for all by offering himself. The Law appoints high priests who are men subject to weakness; but the promise on oath, which came after the Law, appointed the Son who is made perfect for ever.

To suit us, as the Letter to the Hebrews says, the ideal high priest would have to be blameless and beyond the influence of sinners.  No one in the Church is such a person.  We all are born and live out our lives in the world. Today, more than ever, there are strong influences against acting from the love and grace of God.  It is crucial to our walk with Christ to remember that we all struggle to live up to the standards of heaven.  It  is not healthy to base our faith on earthly people--even holy ones.

We are all on a journey to oneness with God; becoming like Him.  As long as we are on this earth, all of us will struggle and fall--even saints.  The people in the Church, both clergy and laity, are human beings. The pope is a human being. Human beings can and often do, do things ranging from the stupid to the cruel.  But we all have the same Father in heaven and we all have the same chance to accept God's Grace and Mercy and grow in holiness.

Jesus is the eternal High Priest. Cling to Him and do not be discouraged  or surprised by reports of others' failings, or, even your own.