“IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CHURCH”
“The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but no vision.” (Helen Keller)
The Church of Jesus Christ in the new age is the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God from the Old Testament. The prophets were people of vision who, guided by the Holy Spirit of God, foretold what would become reality in the near or distant future.
It’s a pity we are so busy with our own business that we don’t have time for the things that would lead us to vision and wisdom. What we read here in Ezekiel; we find also in Daniel 4-14. It’s all about Jesus and the Christian church, growing and persecuted by secular powers but still bearing fruit all over the world.
The prophets were people of vision. They would see the things God allowed them to see and instill hope in God’s people so that they would persevere in hope and faith, although things would not look good at all. Things look no better today. We are not happy that a good number are leaving the Church each year, but we fail to see that we gain back many who get baptized, confirmed or anew in communion with the church at Easter, all around the world. Instead of losing hope we should read what these men of vision wrote so long ago about the Kingdom of God and the Church of Jesus Christ on earth. Isaiah, in the second chapter of his book, wrote: “In the days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s Temple will be established as chief among the mountains, it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many people will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths…. Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” (Is 2, 1-5)
So, are we learning, sisters and brothers? The time is ripe for our faith and hope to grow. The time to adjust our vision and see things with God’s light is now. As St. Paul told the Romans of his time:” For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God
who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rm15, 1-6)
So, how are you feeling about your faith, about your Church? If you feel depressed and discouraged, you are being deceived by the evil one. Remember, if he can discourage you, he can make you quit, stop fighting, stop wrestling, stop hoping, stop living in the Lord and for the Lord. Please always remember that it’s Jesus’ church, not any human being’s church. Remember his words: “and the powers of hell won’t prevail against her.” Remember his promise: “I am with you always, till the end of the world.”
“The Holy Spirit testifies to us about this. First, he says: This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” (Heb. 10:15-18)
Please make sure you show your approbation to this, every time during mass, when the priest says: “Sursum corda: Lift up your hearts and you answer: we lift them up to the Lord.”
Father Danis Ridore