As I reflected on Saint Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, I couldn’t help but also reflect on the situation that our new Roman Pontiff has walked into. As the political and economic gaps around the world continue to widen and intensify, that spirit of division continues to make itself more present within the Church.
We can say many things about the pontificate of Francis, but one many of us would likely agree on is that it definitely made many folks run to their respective corners, boasting of their personal opinions.
The spirits of division and dissension (and the very real dangers those represent) are unfortunately running viral within the Church.
In places across Africa, China, and Central America, among others, we have bishops and other clergy that are imprisoned, beaten, tormented, and even martyred for their love of Jesus Christ and His Church.
Meanwhile, in the United States, we seem to like to squabble. Some of us squabble about which form of the Liturgy we believe is superior to all the other forms of Divine Liturgy. Others of us squabble about some of the organizational changes that are being made to better meet the needs of changing demographics, especially in light of the statistical trends of the number of priests available to serve those demographics. Still others squabble over the priests we have as opposed to being grateful that we even have a priest that can administer the sacraments to us.
At the same time, our lives aren’t really in danger, and we are fortunate to have ample access to the Sacraments; unlike our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world.
I say this not to belittle the very real concerns many of us have about the state of the Church in America. Trust me, I have many opinions that would not be appropriate to announce from the ambo.
At the same time, I think this relates to what is at the heart of Paul’s message today: namely, how we can process the daily pressure and anxiety that many of us feel for the Church today. I can give you two options to consider.
We can react to things from a secular worldview (which many of us unfortunately do), or we can respond to it through a sacramental worldview. Responding through a sacramental worldview means accepting things as they are and trusting that God’s will will be done as Divine Providence continues to unfold.
Or as Jesus might lovingly put it, “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
When we think as human beings do, when we process what we see from the secular worldview, we are more likely to boast of our opinions and preferences. We are naturally going to feel anxiety, fear, distrust, and distress; perhaps even frustration and anger; and likely at the very least confusion.
But, when we trust in the promises of Jesus Christ that the Holy Spirit is ultimately guiding the Catholic Church, then we don’t feel the need to boast in that we can trust that in the midst of the toils and hardships we experience as a result of the human weaknesses in our midst, a greater good will be brought about for the glory of God. If we can simply surrender it all to the care of God, then He will relieve us of our distress.
When we allow our will to be aligned with the will of God, even in matters of the Church such as our preferences around the Liturgy, the clergy, and parish organization, then we can truly begin to think as God does…and we can be at peace.
Sometimes, that means reminding ourselves that our fulfillment is not in the Liturgy itself, but in the Eucharist. Sometimes, that means reminding ourselves that our fulfillment is not in a building nor in the memories made in a particular building, but solely in the Eucharist. Sometimes, that means letting go of how we have always done it in our ministries, in order to embrace where the Holy Spirit is leading us now.
I do not envy Pope Leo XIV, Archbishop Rozanski, and the other bishops and even the pastors around the world that are facing these issues head on. But at least they recognize there are very real problems and they are trying to discern how the Holy Spirit is leading them through these problems.
We may not always agree with their vision and we may not always initially see the wisdom behind their decisions, but our job, to echo Saint Teresa of Calcutta, is to be faithful.
Through our faithfulness, God rescues the just.
Thanks be to God!
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