A Thought

“In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be put to shame.  Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape; incline Your ear to me, and save me.”  Psalm 71:1-2

Sometimes it doesn’t matter what we do or what we say; someone is going to find fault and do everything possible to convince themselves – and others – that they have been victimized by our hands, even as we try to be as encouraging and as inoffensive as possible.  “Speaking the truth in love” is never more challenging than when we attempt, with all good intentions, to hold fellow disciples accountable to the faith and to the Church.  Ultimately, regardless of noble intentions, they turn on us.  And because we choose not to fight back, keeping our tongues and our tempers in check, we are made to feel helpless against the tide swelling against us.

We must never forget, especially during times like these, that Jesus endured these very same things; and because He is who He is, He knew His physical life was in danger and would come to an ugly end for “speaking the truth in love”.  Yet He persevered because He knew it was not a matter of His personal will, but the will of the Holy Father.

Let us persevere against the tide which is swelling against the Church.  Let us remember – and remind one another in mutual accountability – that it is the fellowship which is the strength of the Holy Church, when we are together in praise and worship and Scripture study and attending to the Sacraments of the Church and not scattered to the winds seeking our own way, our own truth.  For it is as “the Teacher” wrote in Ecclesiastes: “Two are better than one … for if they fall, one will lift up his companion.  But woe to the one who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up” (4:9,10).

Blessings,

Michael