pray pray pray
After personally experiencing betrayal of trust on a deep level at a tender age and then again in a Protestant church scandal while in college, I found myself asking the question can anyone or anything be fully trusted? Is there someone or something that will never let me down?
What I found then I share with you now. The answer is really a very sad, no. Well, at least not on this earth. The only One Who is fully worthy of our complete and total trust, love and loyalty, is God because He is the Holy One, the Pure One, Love itself. He is the only One Who will never let you down. If you look to humans or even the very best of the best of human institutions for your one solace or peace in this world, you will be left disappointed.
Why? Because no matter how hard we try...man is sinful.
And now we have the most recent news in the Catholic Church. And while it enrages me and in some ways pokes at the scars of the above mentioned wounds (which, thanks be to God, were healed by His grace due to much prayer and Godly therapy), it is a bold reminder of the lesson God so graciously allowed me to learn earlier in life.
Does that mean we cannot trust the Church?
No. Do not mix up what are the ordained teachings of truth found in God's Holy Word and the foundations laid by Christ Himself with that which is due to the sinfulness of man.
But it does mean we need to pray!
Pray- for the victims of these crimes. As Pope Francis stated: “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it” (1 Cor 12:26)."Looking back to the past, no effort to beg pardon and to seek to repair the harm done will ever be sufficient. Looking ahead to the future, no effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered up and perpetuated." Pray for healing of heart, mind and soul.
Pray- for our priests and leaders all the more fervently at every level. They are human, subject to the same temptations we all face. Who more than they are so greatly targeted for the enemies' attacks? And thankfully, the Sacraments, God’s presence on this earth, are still completely valid, no matter how unworthy the vessel God uses to administer them...because they are an act of pure Grace. And we must pray that God will encourage, strengthen and uphold those who are faithfully in His service with a supernatural strength to soldier onward in spite of the current atmosphere of distrust and even vengeance.
Pray-for every believer to step up, speak out and let our light shine all the more brightly! This is not a time to shrink back! We must endeavor to love God with all of our hearts and stay close to Him the best that we can. We must be real and transparent about our struggles and have others pray with us and for us, because this I know--the devil deals in darkness and secrets and it is there that sin has opportunity to flourish.
Only God is truly Good. Pray for that Goodness to fill all of our hearts and lives as we stay close to His beloved breast. The heart of God is breaking with us now, but He will not abide with sin. All will be revealed, in this life or in the next. So pray, pray, pray. Maranatha!
God’s peace and healing to all.*
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them [as their God]. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away. “ Revelation 21:1-4
Dear Lord,
Help! My heart is broken. My trust, once again, shattered. But my HOPE is in You. In You do I trust and find my peace. Come Lord Jesus! Come! And fill and heal us now we pray.
I ask this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
*Have questions on how to report a case of abuse-- click here
What should I do if I was harmed and have not reported it?
Anyone who has experienced abuse is encouraged to report it to the proper civil authorities and to the archdiocesan director of child protection services. Contact information for civil reporting is in the archdiocesan Child Protection Policy, Appendix A. Courtney Chase, the Director of Child and Youth Protection, may be reached at 301-853-5328 in the Archdiocese of Washington.
