Trusting in the light of Christ amidst scandals

Good News Reflection
Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter
April 14, 2010

Today's Readings:
Acts 5:17-26
Ps 34:2-9
John 3:16-21
http://www.usccb.org/nab/041410.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_04_14.mp3

Trusting in the light of Christ amidst scandals

If I may speak of something that makes us all feel uncomfortable and unhappy, I'd like to use today's scriptures to strengthen us against scandals in our beloved Church. It's very disturbing when the scandal of the molestation of children is in the news, but there are other abuses of priestly vocations that also cause pain, and the people who write to me about this usually do so because they have received too little help from higher authorities.

We are the Body of Christ undergoing purification. And until this affects all types of abuses (bullying, verbal abuse, lustful affairs with adults, etc.) committed by all types of Church leaders (laity as well as clergy), we will continue to be challenged to communal purging so that the Church can be resurrected into a better Servant of salvation for the world. And this includes how well we love the abusers in addition to caring for the abused and how well we affirm the holy priests we do have so that they become visible role models.

Any form of abuse or unloving response to abuse by a Christian is a grave sin, because it harms the whole Body of Christ as it turns away the unbelievers who are watching. How far should we go to stop this? What are we willing to sacrifice to heal the Body of Christ?

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus points out that those who do evil prefer darkness so that their wickedness can continue unnoticed. Most of us, however, tend to contribute to this darkness. When we witness abuses, we're afraid to speak up for fear of reprisal, or we're afraid that it's a sin to take action because it will make the Church look bad, or we're afraid that there aren't enough priests and it's better to have a bad one than none at all, or we're afraid of seeing more than we're comfortable seeing.

The good news is: God's light has come into the world! The Lord wants to bring to light what has been hidden. Sins need be exposed so they can lead to repentance, and how it's handled needs to be exposed so the world sees what real love is like, and holiness needs to be exposed so that others are inspired to the vocation of a holy priesthood.

What we see in the light is sometimes very ugly, repulsive, shocking, and dismaying, but isn't that what Jesus looked like on the cross? If we truly prefer the light, we thank God for the cross of exposed sins and we trust his Holy Spirit while looking forward to the inevitable resurrection. Although bringing sin into the light for purification is painful, it really is the way of Christ. The New Testament is full of such stories. The cross is the only way to redemption. Jesus redeems scandals by raising up much good from them.

As we proclaim in today's Responsorial Psalm, the Lord hears the cry of the poor. No matter how badly we've been hurt or have caused hurt to others, God saves us from distress if we take refuge in him. The Holy Spirit helps us overcome our sins, heals our pain, and leads us into new life.

Pray with me for an increase in holy vocations. Join me in the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary using prayers from the Dallas Plenary Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002, which dealt with sexual offenses, because these prayers are equally valid for any form of vocations abuse.
http://gnm.org/prayers/vocationsrosary/index.html

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission.
You may print one copy for your own personal use.
For PERMISSION and info on how to copy this reflection for sharing, see:
http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm

Seeking a past reflection?
Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.

WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?
To sign up for your own subscription, go to:
http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections


Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?
Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue...

Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!

Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

______________________________________________________________
This is the "Good News Reflections - American Edition" mailing list.
MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:
Change your address
Unsubscribe