This is what Jesus said of His death: “…once I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.”(Jn.12: 32f, Jn.3: 14). To hear this makes it possible. To believe it makes it real. To live it makes it ours. This is God’s plan for Good Friday and Easter. Listen. Believe. Love.
I have
known people through the years who have walked away from the Church and joined
another or just stopped going to any church because of several reasons among
which were a grouchy priest or Sister, sermons on money, lack of friendliness
of a congregation, etc.
Such
reasons are examples of elements that touch the surface. They are not what the Church is all about.
Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, and Pentecost touch what the church is all
about, love, God’s love among us, and our love for God and one another in
Christ Jesus. No one in his or her right
mind would walk away from love.
“If
I be lifted up…” is to say “If you only knew my love for you, you would come to
me and bring others whom you love and are searching for meaning peace and joy
in their lives, along with you". That is a promise and an invitation from
GOD!
Pope Francis has been urging us as individuals and as the Church to make sure we are living up to the Biblical images of Jesus as a Vine and Body whose life we share through faith and Baptism. That is essential to any significant growth for the Church, growth in numbers and growth in faith, in the secular culture of our particular moment of history.
Pope Francis has been urging us as individuals and as the Church to make sure we are living up to the Biblical images of Jesus as a Vine and Body whose life we share through faith and Baptism. That is essential to any significant growth for the Church, growth in numbers and growth in faith, in the secular culture of our particular moment of history.
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