In the midst of very trying times for people of faith, we must continue to be faithful disciples, even if this means having to ask ourselves some very difficult questions and to dare to advance answers that are brutally honest.
Today’s gospel begins with words which Jesus spoke to the crowds: ... unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you (Jn 6:53). Many of those who heard these words found them difficult to understand, and because they could not understand his words, many of them turned back and no longer went along with him (Jn 6:66). This was a kind of litmus test for them, a breaking point. Like them, we must always ask ourselves: how far am I willing to go to follow in the footsteps of Jesus? It is always easy to follow him when things are going well, but the true level of our commitment only comes to light when there are challenges, when we are tested.
This summer has been a very trying time for many in the Church. At the end of July, a retired Cardinal who once shepherded the Archdiocese of Washington, DC resigned his position as an advisor to the Holy Father as a result of accusations of inappropriate behaviour and cover-ups regarding abuses committed by clergy under his care while he was in active ministry. Last week, the Pennsylvania Grand Jury released a report that accuses more than 300 priests in dioceses throughout that state of sexually abusing more than 1,000 children over a 70-year period.
Reports like this always remind me that although God is perfect, none of us is. The weakness of those who serve in the Church is understandably a cause for concern, because we are called to lead first and foremost by example ... and because the victims in this case are the innocent: those who should be protected most of all.
Those who are guilty must always answer for their actions, but such situations should also make all of us aware of our own weaknesses, and each of us must ask ourselves the question: how far am I willing to go to follow in the footsteps of Jesus?
In the first reading for today’s liturgy, Joshua challenged the elders, the heads, the judges and the officers of Israel ... to choose who they would serve (Joshua 24:15). In the midst of confusion and chaos, his words rang out and reverberated in their hearts, and they recognized a call to affirm their willingness to serve the Lord.
Even today, when we are faced with situations of confusion and chaos, we must always stop and listen deeply for the voice of God that is always whispering wisdom in the depths of our souls. This voice will always help us to return to the basics. It will always help us to find our way, even when we are faced with the most disturbing news.
The report issued by the Pennsylvania Grand Jury has sent shock waves throughout the Church in the United States and these shock waves have reverberated here in Canada and as far away as Rome. These difficult questions require answers, and the answers will be forthcoming, but in the meanwhile, each of us can and must pray for our brothers and sisters: those who have committed such unspeakable acts and those who have been victimized. Let us all strive to be kind to one another, tender-hearted and forgiving one another as Christ has forgiven us (Eph 4:32).
A difficult moment
Today’s gospel begins with words which Jesus spoke to the crowds: ... unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you (Jn 6:53). Many of those who heard these words found them difficult to understand, and because they could not understand his words, many of them turned back and no longer went along with him (Jn 6:66). This was a kind of litmus test for them, a breaking point. Like them, we must always ask ourselves: how far am I willing to go to follow in the footsteps of Jesus? It is always easy to follow him when things are going well, but the true level of our commitment only comes to light when there are challenges, when we are tested.
This summer has been a very trying time for many in the Church. At the end of July, a retired Cardinal who once shepherded the Archdiocese of Washington, DC resigned his position as an advisor to the Holy Father as a result of accusations of inappropriate behaviour and cover-ups regarding abuses committed by clergy under his care while he was in active ministry. Last week, the Pennsylvania Grand Jury released a report that accuses more than 300 priests in dioceses throughout that state of sexually abusing more than 1,000 children over a 70-year period.
Reports like this always remind me that although God is perfect, none of us is. The weakness of those who serve in the Church is understandably a cause for concern, because we are called to lead first and foremost by example ... and because the victims in this case are the innocent: those who should be protected most of all.
Those who are guilty must always answer for their actions, but such situations should also make all of us aware of our own weaknesses, and each of us must ask ourselves the question: how far am I willing to go to follow in the footsteps of Jesus?
In the first reading for today’s liturgy, Joshua challenged the elders, the heads, the judges and the officers of Israel ... to choose who they would serve (Joshua 24:15). In the midst of confusion and chaos, his words rang out and reverberated in their hearts, and they recognized a call to affirm their willingness to serve the Lord.
Even today, when we are faced with situations of confusion and chaos, we must always stop and listen deeply for the voice of God that is always whispering wisdom in the depths of our souls. This voice will always help us to return to the basics. It will always help us to find our way, even when we are faced with the most disturbing news.
The report issued by the Pennsylvania Grand Jury has sent shock waves throughout the Church in the United States and these shock waves have reverberated here in Canada and as far away as Rome. These difficult questions require answers, and the answers will be forthcoming, but in the meanwhile, each of us can and must pray for our brothers and sisters: those who have committed such unspeakable acts and those who have been victimized. Let us all strive to be kind to one another, tender-hearted and forgiving one another as Christ has forgiven us (Eph 4:32).
Un moment difficile
Aujourd’hui, l’Évangile commence par des paroles que Jésus a adressées à la foule:… si vous ne mangez la chair du Fils de l’homme, et si vous ne buvez son sang, vous n’avez point la vie en vous (Jn 6,53). Beaucoup de ceux qui ont entendu ces paroles les ont trouvés difficiles à comprendre, et à cause du fait qu’ils ne pouvaient pas les comprendre, beaucoup d'entre eux se sont retournés et ont cessé de l’accompagner (Jn 6, 66). C'était une sorte d’épreuve pour eux, un point décisif. Comme eux, nous devons toujours nous demander: jusqu’à quel point suis-je disposé à marcher sur les traces de Jésus? Il est toujours facile de le suivre quand la vie est belle, mais le véritable niveau de notre engagement ne se révèle que lorsqu'il y a des défis, lorsque nous sommes mises à l’épreuve.
Cet été a été une période très éprouvante pour beaucoup de personnes qui font partie de l'Église. À la fin du mois de juillet, un cardinal à la retraite qui dirigeait autrefois l’archidiocèse de Washington a démissionné de son poste de conseiller du Saint-Père pour faire suite à des accusations de comportement inapproprié et de dissimulation des abus commis par le clergé confit à sa charge pendant qu’il était en ministère actif. La semaine dernière, le Grand Jury de Pennsylvanie a publié un rapport accusant plus de 300 prêtres dans les diocèses de cet état d’abus sexuel de plus de 1 000 enfants sur une période de 70 ans.
Des rapports comme celui-ci me rappellent toujours le fait que même si Dieu est parfait, aucun de nous n’est parfait. La faiblesse de ceux qui servent dans l’Église est naturellement une source de préoccupation, car nous sommes appelés avant tout à fournir l’exemple… et les victimes en l’occurrence sont des innocents: celles qui devraient être protégés par-dessus tout.
Ceux qui sont coupables doivent toujours répondre de leurs actes, mais de telles situations devraient également nous rendre conscients de nos propres faiblesses, et chacun de nous doit se poser la question: jusqu’à quel point suis-je disposé à marcher sur les traces de Jésus?
Dans la première lecture de la liturgie d’aujourd’hui, Josué appela les anciens d’Israël, les chefs, les juges et les scribes (Josué 24,15). Au milieu de la confusion et du chaos, ses paroles résonnèrent et se répercutèrent dans leurs cœurs, et ils reconnurent un appel à affirmer leur volonté de servir le Seigneur.
Même de nos jours, lorsque nous sommes confrontés à des situations de confusion et de chaos, nous devons toujours nous arrêter et écouter profondément la voix de Dieu qui murmure toujours la sagesse au plus profond de notre âme. Cette voix nous aidera toujours à revenir aux bases. Cela nous aidera toujours à trouver notre chemin, même lorsque nous sommes confrontés aux nouvelles les plus inquiétantes.
Le rapport publié par le Grand Jury de Pennsylvanie a provoqué des ondes de choc dans toute l’Eglise aux Etats-Unis et ces ondes de choc se sont répercutées ici au Canada et même à Rome. Ces questions difficiles nécessitent des réponses, et les réponses seront à venir, mais entre-temps, chacun de nous peut et doit prier pour nos frères et sœurs: ceux qui ont commis de tels actes indicibles et ceux qui ont été victimisés. Efforçons-nous tous d'être gentils les uns envers les autres, compatissants, se pardonnant réciproquement comme Dieu nous a pardonné (Ep 4, 32).
No comments:
Post a Comment