FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK……

MAY 9, 2004

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

    While traveling in my car, I like to listen to Christian radio programs.  Recently I happened to tune in to a program where the speaker was saying that the Church Age was over, and he was encouraging people to leave the Church.  When I heard this message, I was deeply distressed.  I know that there are many people who are disturbed by the actions of some in the church recently that have brought about great scandal and shaken people's confidence in the hierarchy & leadership within the Church.  I cannot blame them for their negative reaction to what has been happening. 

    On the other hand, the Church was established by Jesus Himself.  In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says to Peter after he makes his profession of faith in Jesus, the Messiah:
"…YOU ARE PETER, AND UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT."  (See Matthew 16: 18 In The Vulgate Version Of The Holy Bible)  Jesus did not say that His Church would not suffer attack, but He did promise that evil would not prevail.  Those who leave the Church will not have the benefit of Jesus' promise of protection.  The Church is not perfect.  That is because of its dual nature:  it is divine in origin but made up of human beings who fall short at times because of human weakness and failings.  This was true of the original twelve apostles Jesus called.  One, Judas Iscariot, was a traitor & sold Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver,  because he was a thief.  Another, Peter, denied Jesus three separate times even though,  when forewarned by Jesus Himself,  he protested that this would never happen.  Nevertheless, imperfect and sinful as it may be, the Church has always been the servant of the Kingdom of God.  In today's First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we see how the Church's early missionaries, Paul & Barnabas,  ministered to the people by strengthening the disciples of Jesus and exhorting them to persevere in the faith.  (See Acts 14: 22)  The Church continues this important work even to the present day.  It provides the Sacraments to help people in their walk of faith.  The Church also serves to point us toward that New Jerusalem  that is to come someday.  (See today's Second Reading From Revelation 21: 1-2). As a humble imperfect servant of God's Kingdom among us, the Church is to be the vehicle of Christ's love until He returns at the end of the ages.  (See Today's Gospel  John 13:  36)

    I believe it is a big mistake to let our disappointment because of the recent scandals drive us out of Jesus' Church.  Not without reason does Scripture refer to our enemy, the devil, as "…A ROARING LION LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO DEVOUR."  (See 1 Peter 5: 8b) A lion attacks the animal that strays away from the flock and is left unprotected.  We still need the Lord's protection that He provides through  His Church even more now than ever before.

                                                                Sincerely yours in Christ,
                                                         
                                                                Fr. Raymond J. Tintle, OFM
                                                                Pastor