I am looking for the church Jesus started
An intimate setting, friends, community, accountability, scripture, giving thanks, breaking bread. The early church was simple, I imagine, unencumbered, living out what Jesus asked them to do-love God and one another, strive for personal holiness and go make disciples, an uncomplicated message.
I am looking for the church Jesus started and I can’t seem to find it. Amid the latest scandal in the Catholic Church, there truly are no words, really, just tears. Tears for the pain inflicted on God’s children-my brothers and sister, tears for the injustice-those who seem to escape punishment, at least for now, tears for the broken-hearted, for when a member of the body of Christ hurts, we all hurt.
I am looking for the church Jesus started and I can’t seem to find it. The one that rooted out Judas the betrayer, the one who swiftly dealt with Ananias and Sapphira, who operated in secret, the one that called a sin a sin, “go and sin mo more.”
I am looking for the church Jesus started and I can’t seem to find it. The church has disappointed me and I am grieving. My heart cannot begin to fathom how our Lord must be grieving, his grief, incomprehensible.
Years ago, my wise mother once said to me, “people will always disappoint. Only the Lord never disappoints.” I am reminded of how the disciples must have felt when they knew the tomb held the body of Jesus, everything still and lifeless.
But Hope does not disappoint. Out of the darkness, comes light. From the ashes, new growth eventually emerges. The still lifeless body in the tomb breathed anew. I chose hope.
Well said!
Thank you for sharing this vision of the early church that I also long for. The Lord exposes evil to his light! I pray for more exposure of the darkness in the church so we can emerge purified and cleansed. I pray for courage and wisdom to speak up and do my part when I see evil creeping into the Church. I am just as responsible as the priests and bishops in not covering up sin when it is exposed.
There is such a big vacuum of good leadership in this world, including the church. I’m disappointed that the pope didn’t get in front of this earlier and modeled love the way Jesus did in the beginning.
Agreed Nicolas. As some of the priests are coming forward with big words, I pray they lead others to follow through with the promises they are making. Ultimately, based on previous events, I don’t have much hope in that. But, my hope is in Him, not in man so I continue to trust Him and focus on Him.
Leslie that was beautifully said. Thank You!