here are a lot of wounds in the Mystical Body today and, in many ways, the Synod on Synodality is pouring salt into those wounds. Since 2018—and even before that—it seems as if the cries of the evangelized People of God continue to go ignored. Whether it is the scandals, corruption, the lack of supernatural leadership in the pandemic, the “accompaniment” of error and false teaching, the behemoth bureaucracy that is taking over most chanceries, or the great agonies and afflictions experienced in our daily lives, we do not feel listened to in so many ways. At least in the ways that truly matter.
I read Amy Welborn’s opinion piece entitled “You’re Not Listening” at The Catholic World Report this week and shared it with friends. Everyone agreed it was dead on. I would only add an increased focus on the lack of spiritual leadership, but otherwise, she explains why a suffering people is tired of meetings and endless talking, rather than an authentic living of our mission. We have been living through the Passion of Our Lord and we have been met with an ever-increasing bureaucracy that is sucking the life out of the Church and tiring out the laity and many priests. Morale is very low across the Church in the West.
Others and I came up against this false “listening Church” in our diocese recently. It was clear that no one is interested in listening to those who want the Church to live in the truth and for the hierarchy to fully call us and show us the radicality of discipleship and the demands of holiness. This is not some kind of agenda in a time of competing agendas. The Church’s entire mission is the salvation of souls. This is the only agenda that matters.
When we don’t fight to save souls, we endanger others and our own soul in the process. Heaven or hell are the possibilities, and the latter is possible for all of us if we are not seeking the narrow way. Universalism is still heresy, regardless of its prevalence in the pews. This is why the very notion of being open to false teachers in our midst is so egregious. Engaging with false prophets who manipulate and use our openness against us is not simply some kind of harmless listening session. Souls are always on the line. Christ doesn’t invite the devil in for a discussion, He casts him out.
Despite the pain and frustration this constant bureaucratic and “listening Church” has caused a great many of us, I realized that the answer is not to rant and rave in social media or even amongst our friends. I could have written an article this week detailing what exactly happened in my diocese, but it is pointless. I have no desire to contribute to a social media dumpster fire that will only fall on rocky soil and hearts that are not interested in listening to the truth. There is a much greater need today than more social media outrage. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
We must go to the One who will listen to us. We must go to Our Lord, who waits for us in the Tabernacle. No, this response does not have the instant gratification of ranting at the diocese or any other diocese and spreading it across social media. In fact, in our utilitarian and productivity driven age—which has infected the Church—it doesn’t seem like doing anything, but this ultimately is the answer. This is everything. It is Our Lord who shows us to go to the lonely places to pray, and the Tabernacle is the loneliest place on earth. He is abandoned in countless Tabernacles. He meets us in our sense of abandonment.
Read more at Catholic Exchange.
Swimming the Depths 