19th Sunday after Pentecost 25.9.16 The Church – charity and clarity
We are invited to the wedding banquet. Some accept, some refuse. Once in the banquet, some conform, some do not.
It is hard to get people in, and hard to keep them once we have them!
The banquet can be taken as an image of the Church. First we must join it; then we must conform to its teachings (wedding garment).
We are called individually by Christ Himself: Come, follow Me.
We answer the call as individuals, but we cannot follow Him only as individuals. He incorporates us in His Body, the Church.
If we are to be in union with Him, we must also be in union with the rest of the Church.
This is His desire - that they may all be one (Jn 17, 21)
The unity, if achieved, will have two aspects. Unity in charity, and unity in clarity (of belief).
We will learn to love one another, and to believe the same essential truths of the faith.
Unity in charity: we treat each other well. We think as well as we can of each other. At the very least there is always goodwill for the other person. Even if we think someone is a major sinner, we still have goodwill for him insofar as we want him to be saved.
Take the symbolism of a large number coming to Holy Communion and the union that expresses; how can we have differences from each other, hold grudges etc (epistle)?
Unity of belief: we look to the Church to teach us what to believe. We have no other way of knowing what is what. We could not work out for ourselves all the intricacies of the creeds and catechisms; all the finer points of faith and morality.
We rely instead on the accumulated wisdom of twenty centuries – the Bible itself, the writings of Councils, of saints and popes. No one person could match that or supersede it, though many think they can!
Chaos results when people try to outdo the Church in wisdom. We are always tempted to take an easier path if we can choose for ourselves.
We learn to think as members of the Church, not just as individuals.
It requires of us that we be humble both in attitude (charity) and belief (faith).
There is discord around us, both in the Church and the wider world. We can find order and peace in Christ Himself.
We go to Him first. We submit our intellect. He knows better than we do, surprise!
And our will. We submit totally to Him, and go along with anything He says, or does, or gives, or withholds.
Then we are in a better place to deal with any difficulties that arise.
If we are unhappy with the way the Church is headed, we draw closer to Our Lord, desiring the best for all, ourselves included.
Those with higher responsibility have a harder task, and need more prayer. Whether we think someone is doing a good job or not, is not the issue. Simply pray for him.
This is why we pray so often for our leaders, the Pope and the Bishops. We pray that everyone, high and low, overcome any deficiencies, and themselves come closer to full unity with Christ.
We do not feel superior if we think we are more right than others on some issue. We remember our own sinfulness and ask for mercy; for us and them.
We pray for the Church to be as pure, holy and wise as she needs to be. Remember we have a commission - to baptise all nations. Or to fill the banquet hall.
To get people in, those already in have to learn to behave. That is our task now. May the Lord who invites us, give us all necessary graces to fulfil His will.
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