It is often said that we are not of this world that we as Catholics are set upon worship and service to others as well as taking our place in the body of Christ. No more factual statement has been made. However I will argue that while this is true we must exist as people of this world to fulfill what Jesus wished for us to do. We are to bring the Church to those who do not know what the real church is. The real Church is of course The Holy Roman Catholic Church. Now if this offends you because you are not a part of the church don't let this statement do so. The Catholic church does not subscribe to the view that if you are not Catholic your going to Hell. It dose however state you cannot know the true fullness of Christ if you are not part of the Catholic church.
By reading the Gospels and Acts we are given a road map of what Christ wants from us. Simply we should live as he did. Easier said than done by a long shot, however as we get to know Christ better we receive more and more graces from God to learn more. By this I mean, if you attend Mass you without question will run into the couple. They are always in Mass and serve the Church and have such joy in their hearts that just by being near them you feel joyous also. They are not arrogant nor judgemental they are loving friendly and without question somebody we want to be. Sound familiar? These are the people that get it. They overflow with grace and joy because they have found completeness in Christ.
Now in my time I have wandered between a few different Churches, I won't mention their names but they were Christian Churches also. In this time though I would find there was also something missing. There was not the joy you see in the Catholic Church but instead it is replaced by smoke and mirrors. To often you found that the people who were looked upon as people to imitate were judgemental and opinionated to such a severe level that if you were not a member at birth you could never seek to sit on that high of a ivory tower. I do not say this to be harsh or mean spirited. There are several people on the lowest rungs of these churches who are very faithful and loving people who by the very nature of their church are taught feelings matter not getting closer to God. I cannot sometimes hold my temper when a man or woman comes up to me and says " I went to church last week and got saved and now I am guaranteed heaven". I will often tell them that is a good first step accepting God. All to often I hear "First step? no you don't understand this is all I need to do".
They never go back to church living their lives as they always have and die facing judgement on a lie. Meanwhile their Pastors are driving expensive spots cars and jetting all over the world spreading their version of what a Christian is.
At this point I must tell a quick story. I attended at one time a super church somewhere in Texas. They had the lights flashing the singing and put on shows and everything you could imagine. The Pastor of the Church was widely recognized and was very popular not only in his church but in the many churches he visited around the world. He was a very aggressive towards the Catholic church talking of guilt and lies and how he was raised Catholic and somebody owed him a apology. I was never at ease when he went on these tirades and often wondered how a man that preaches love could hate as much as he did. Well I left that Church and returned to the Catholic Church and found my found my place there. I immediately knew in my heart that my search was over. I needed no lights, no loud music, and no smoke to tell me why I was there. I had been away for many years and was never confirmed so i and my family entered into the RCIA program of catechism as appropriate. Now I should note this move was not sudden I began to study and reached this decision based on research and prayer. I forced nobody in my home to join with me. I asked my wife and each child what they wanted to do. Our first Mass was filled with the joy as a homecoming often is. I received the Sacrament of Confirmation and began to try to find my place in the body of Christ. I wanted to be where other Catholics were because it was where my heart now was. I joined The Knights of Columbus both because I saw my duty to the Church but also the service to the community. I was accepted and am now a Third Degree Knight and will Enter the Fourth Degree later this month. I had skipped some Fourth Degree ceremonies to remain a third degree Knight because I did not at that time consider myself worthy of that honor. However no matter where you went you always heard about a certain Knight that was talked about with such awe and admiration that it was stunning. He was among the charter members of our Council and was deeply respected for both his works within the Knights as well as the Church he was a man of exceptional faith and I am sadly left having never knew him in person.
He passed not long ago but by then I had learned much more about him. He had four sons and a very loving wife. Three of his sons were well respected members of the Catholic faith. His fourth son was the very same preacher of the church I left. This threw me for a loop as he was dripping with hatred for the Catholic faith. At his funeral Mass the fullness of his life was evident. The church was almost packed and he received a tribute by the Knights as befitting a fourth degree Knight. As I looked around it was apparent his son from the other church was not attending. Instead seated somewhere near the back of the church was his wife. It was sad to see her almost sneer at everybody there. The Mass ended and she left having never said anything to the family. It was heartbreaking to see a family in such division. I shall remember that lesson until the day I die.
I have relatives still attending that Church convinced I am going to Hell in a hand basket. Maybe perhaps because of my many sins they may be right. I have attempted to reach out to them but blindness is all to difficult to cure. If Churches from all Christian faiths preach the Jesus forgives and loves everybody and wishes no on to suffer Hell. Why do they hate us? The persecution of the Catholic Church is alive and well in today's world. So who should we look for as a example to us all how to live for Christ but exist in the present world. I only need to go to Saint Francis. He lived in a time of peril bringing many to Christ while strictly sticking to what Jesus taught. He broke no civil laws but was there to share the glory of God to many. This I believe is the finest example for us all we are here to save others not to serve ourselves. We need to both Liberal Catholics as well as Traditional Catholics come together and get on with God's work and not try to change our church to suit our beliefs.
It takes a little of the past and a little of the now and a little of the future for a church to know it's own destiny. We as Catholics know our destiny but want to play tug a war as to what the Church is like. Yes even today there is division but there is a way to stop this division. Accept the Church for what she is and don't worry about the turns of the Church. God declares that Satan will not overcome the Church so it is our job to remain silent on the differences and approach our God as a member of the body of his church. No self interest but always focused on what our job here is on Earth, to love and bring others to the real Church.
Now I know some are saying "hey wait a second earlier you wrote on veiling women and no meat on Friday etc... these are rules that many believe gone but are not. I do not attack those who don't wear veils nor anybody else, however just pointing out facts is not a act of judgement nor censure. We can become a great body of service as the parts of the body of Christ today and in the future. So let it be our sacred duty to serve Christ and do what he wishes for us. A new rising of faith is needed in this country and the Church nor Jesus will always be here. For at a point we will be with God in heaven and Earth minus God can't survive. It is my most serious prayer that this nation as well as the rest of the world come to realize we are all one nation (in the body of Christ) and as one nation we are under God. I believe we could not aspire to any higher level.
Until next time.
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