I have been trying to make sense of this abuse crisis in the Church right now and I am finding there really aren’t words. What does a writer do when there really aren’t words? Working in communications, I have watched as my office has tried our best to convey some sort of message of hope to the Faithful.
The readings for this weekend really stood out to me, in light of everything that has been going on. It seems as if they were almost written directly to the hurting Church as we try to grapple with this scandal. And if you think about it…they were written directly to us. Such is the Living, Active Word.
“Decide today whom you will serve…” (Joshua 24:15).
In all this pain, in all this hurt, it is important to remember that the clergy are fallible and human. It is also important to remember that we have been blessed by so many good and faithful clergy who have inspired us in their life of service.
“As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
The fallible clergy isn’t the reason we’re here…
It is important to remember that although the Church is run by humans, it was instituted by Christ. He’s the reason we’re here…
And if we haven’t left yet, no amount of scandal brought on by the enemy is going to make us go anywhere.
I recently came across a prayer card I acquired during Holy Week. It was a picture of Jesus weeping. That is the way I picture Him right now…weeping along with us.
This weekend’s responsorial psalm reads, “The Lord has eyes for the just, and ears for their cry. The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.”
When the just cry out, the Lord hears them,
And from all their distress He rescues them.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
And those who are crushed in spirit He saves
(Psalm 34).
Let those words sink in for a minute. Let them permeate your heart.
He hears their cry.
He confronts the evildoers and destroys their remembrance from the earth.
He saves the crushed in spirit.
He is why we are here.
He is why we will remain.
Though our hearts are crushed.
At the end of this weekend’s Gospel, we see that, after hearing Jesus’ controversial proclamation of His true Body and Blood in the Eucharist, people left in droves.
Jesus asks His disciples, “Do you also want to leave?” (John 6:67).
Peter, the first Pope, the rock of the Church, answers, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68).
To whom shall we go?
To whom shall we go?
I can’t even begin to imagine the pain that the victims feel. But I also know that that same loving God who has been with the Church through all it has been through before continues to walk with Her today.
Let His words be a lamp unto your feet. A comfort in times of trouble.
Elizabeth Clyons is a graduate student working toward her masters in Catechetics and Evangelization and working as a Communications Associate in the Diocese of Bridgeport.
