A friend pointed out that in my last post I did not talk about the victims of the current crisis within the hierarchy of the Church. I noted it myself as I wrote it.
Yet what is there to say?
I know someone personally affected by some of these wolves in sheep's clothing. He shared with me some of the impact it has had on his life, but I know that I have caught only a glimpse into the searing pain of it on his heart and soul.
Doubtless it is the same for the other victims. For many, it is worse—much, much worse. For my friend has his faith in God still and others have had theirs shaken.
In the face of this evil, there is only one thing I can say, even though I doubt whether I could speak it directly to any of those wounded by their sinful shepherds, for it takes a strong, strong faith to accept it. In the end, though, there really is only one thing to say: God is greater.
We, with our finite minds, get caught up in the evils of the present age. We see even our beloved Church being torn to shreds. We see people leaving the Church, people losing faith in the priesthood, people aching with the pain of abuse and betrayal. Then we begin to believe the lies of the enemy that these evils are irredeemable, that there is nothing we can do. Subtly, our hearts become calloused and bitter.
Across the vast landscape of these evils, however, the Cross rises undeniable. The Cross stands not for the condemnation it ought to represent, but for a sign of resurrection.
For there is no resurrection without death first. There is no glory without passing through the valley of tears.
It is easy to say to others when we are experiencing prosperity that God will turn everything to good; it is much harder when we ourselves suffer. Yet even then we barely give it lip service despite the promise of Scripture:
And we know that to them that love God, all things work together unto good, to such as, according to His purpose, are called to be saints. (Romans 8:28)
Do we believe that? Do we really believe that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving? In short, do we really believe He is God?
If God is really who we believe He is, then He will fulfill that promise. He will bring good out of the worst evil, as He brought our salvation out of the evil of being betrayed, condemned to death, abandoned by His friends, and dying the most horrific, painful death possible.
It is difficult to believe that those called to lead their flocks could so far lead them astray. It is enough to make any question.
The worst of the current situation perhaps is that the victims are innocent. Yet Christ too was innocent.
Only if we choose to believe that God really is the Lord of the universe can we find true solace in the midst of such incredible depravity. Only if we accept His lordship over the world can we truly have hope that out of such corruption can be brought a greater good. And how could an all-loving God allow such evil unless He could achieve through it a good beyond our imagining?
That is the hope we must choose to have.
