WHAT DO I DO FOR A CHURCH THAT IS MORE FAITHFUL TO JESUS?
«Where two or three are joined together in my name, there am I in their midst». The best way of making Christ present in his Church is to keep ourselves united, acting «in his name», moved by his Spirit. The Church doesn’t need so much our confessions of love or our criticisms as much as our real commitment. Here’s a few of the questions we can ask ourselves.
What do I do to create a climate of collective conversion in the bosom of this Church, always in need of renovation and transformation? How would the Church be if all lived out the adhesion to Christ more or less as I live it out? Would it be more or less faithful to Jesus?
What do I contribute of spirit, truth, and authenticity to this Church so in need of Gospel radicality in order to offer a credible testimony of Jesus in the midst of an indifferent and unbelieving society?
How do I contribute with my life to build up a Church that is closer to the men and women of our time, that knows not just how to teach, preach, and exhort, but above all how to welcome, listen, and accompany those who go about lost, not knowing love or friendship?
What do I contribute to construct a Samaritan Church, of big and compassionate heart, capable of forgetting our own interests in order to be devoted to the great problems of humanity?
What do I do so that the Church would be freed of fears and slaveries that paralyze and tie her to the past, and let herself be penetrated and enlivened by the freshness and creativity that is born of Jesus’ Gospel?
What do I offer in these moments so that the Church learn to «live small», without grand social pretensions, but rather in humble manner, as hidden «leaven», transforming «salt», small «seed» ready to die in order to give life?
What do I do for a Church that is more joyful and hopeful, more free and understanding, more transparent and fraternal, more believing and believable, more of God and less of the world, more of Jesus and less of our interests and ambitions? The Church changes when we change ourselves, it gets converted when we get converted ourselves.
José Antonio Pagola
Translator: Fr. Jay VonHandorf
