Fibers

“Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” (Matthew 13:53).

Saint Bridget Catholic Church (Elizabeth Wiley)

I have been thinking about the Church.  It is a huge thing.  Not only is it twenty centuries old, but it is run in a traditional manner by men.  Just think about what that really means in this modern world.  I am not saying that women have no part in the Church – of course we do.  But for whatever reason that God had, He decided that the Church would be run by men…

Over the ages, the Church has experienced times of great holiness, and other times of great sinfulness (among the members of the Church – NOT in its teachings).  And I have been reflecting on that today.  I once heard it said that the survival of the Church was – of itself – evidence of Divine intervention, because nothing else could have withstood not only the test of time but the various scandals created by its members over the years that have followed…

And I supposed that since the First leader of this Church was Saint Simon Peter – the Rock upon which it was built, that this should come as no surprise.  One of the strongest and earliest evangelists of the Church was Saint Paul the Apostle, who was a converted Pharisee who personally arranged the martyrdom of the first Christian martyr, Saint Stephen, and then arrange the persecution and martyrdom of countless other Christians prior to his conversion.

And yet – through DIVINE intervention God was able to work the fibres of these fallible human beings together to create a net for His people…

“The kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad. So, it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth...Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” (Matthew 13:47-53).

God did not tell the Apostles to collect the strong ones or the good ones or the best ones.  He instructed them – and us as well – to collect EVERYONE.  God is not asking me to be my neighbour’s judge,  Instead, He is asking me to be my neighbour’s friend.  And we invite our friends into warmth and safety…

And that is what Christ is asking me to do – and you too.  Not to judge my neighbour, but to LOVE them and invite them into the warm protection of the Church, where we are able to fall under the Divine intervention of God and be guided by Him to salvation…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.