1 Chronicles 23: The Levitical Classes
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
A re-post from April 3, 2012.
There is an interesting article in the NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER (April 15, 2011) describing the “hidden exodus of Catholics from their faith”. Thomas Reese writes: “Any other institution that lost one-third of its members would want to know why. But the U.S. bishops have never devoted any time at their national meetings to discussing the exodus. Nor have they spent a dime trying to find out why it is happening. Thankfully, although the U.S. bishops have not supported research on people who have let the church, the Pew Center has”. Then Reese describes the report results. They are fascinating. http://ncronline.org/news/hidden-exodus-catholics-becoming-protestants What do the people want? They ask that liturgy be more pertinent. They ask for more opportunities for Bible study. I cannot find a reason that these requests go unanswered.
As I pray, I juxtapose David’s acknowledgement of his own mortality and his good shepherding of the people with the apparent benign neglect of present day Catholic Church leaders. And I do what I always do when I am perplexed . . . I go to God.
In today’s Gospel we read about Judas’ betrayal of Christ. This seems significant to me. In a perfect world, spiritual leaders actually tend to peoples’ souls rather than to their own needs. In our world, the closest to us are often those who betray us most quickly . . . and always this kind of unfaithfulness cuts deeply.
The MAGNIFICAT Morning Prayer is full of guideposts for those who are betrayed by those closest to them. This also seems significant. We cannot suppose that just because people wear the trappings of office that they perfectly fulfill the duties they are bound to perform. In a perfect world, our spiritual leaders concern themselves with real people in real time . . . and they are aware that they lead by serving.
Psalm 55: My heart is stricken within me . . . and so I must trust God with my fears.
John 13:21: Jesus was deeply troubled . . . so I cannot be upset with my own turmoil.
Jeremiah 20:10: Yes, I hear the whisperings of many: “Terror on every side! . . . Yet God is with us always.
Job 19:19: All my intimate friends hold me in horror . . . Still I remain faithful to God.
We know the story of Peter’s denial of Christ and his later confession of faith when the Resurrected Jesus asks, Do you love me? (John 21) We know that Christ offers Peter this opportunity for conversion and opens the door to newness, honesty, and a deeper fidelity than had before been possible.
Our question on this Holy Tuesday is this . . . Does our love in Christ and for Christ call us to forgive all those who have harmed us in big ways and in small ways . . . even as Christ has forgiven us?
Image from: http://webspace.webring.com/people/up/pharsea/PeopleOfGod.html
For more information on Aaron, and the Levites, go to: http://eastonsbibledictionary.com/a/aaron.htm and http://eastonsbibledictionary.com/l/levite.htm
Cameron, Peter John. “Prayer for the Morning.” MAGNIFICAT. 4.19 (2011). Print.
The Noontimes 