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It was great seeing such
great crowds at our Masses last weekend. With Lent upon us plus all the
anguishing, seemingly non-ending news accounts of clergy sex abuse, we
all have a deeper need to cling to the cross of Christ. We hope for
better days.
Our religion needs to be cleansed a la the sons of Levi in the Book of
Malachi. In the famous oratorio “Messiah,” Handel saves one of his most
hauntingly beautiful melodies for this passage: “But who shall survive
the day of His coming, and who shall still be standing when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire.” Handel was a very religious man and
never again re-used any of his 48 Messiah melodies in any of his
subsequent works. The idea of the refiner’s fire is not supposed to
conjure up ideas of physical pain.
The refiner’s fire is needed when goldsmiths and silversmiths purify
their gold and silver and get rid of impurities and dirt that doesn’t
belong. It’s a time-consuming trade and takes years of practice before
one becomes a master. Because if the precious metal (us) is held in the
fire too long by the refiner (God), it wilts and becomes useless and
limp without glimmer or beauty. The refiner knows when the object is
perfect only when he sees his own reflection in it!
We ask God to purify us in this manner. No one is without sin so we’re
all in this together. This parallels Genesis’ teaching that we’re truly
made in God’s image and likeness. It’s one of the most powerful messages
in all of scripture. Finally, it speaks not just to purify us in the 6th
commandment, but total purity: purity of heart and mind; purity in our
thoughts and feelings.
This is what we need nationwide in Catholicism and perhaps around the
globe. Many of our Protestant brothers and sisters put us to shame.
Pause for a moment and recall the times you were a guest at a Protestant
church. You’re always treated well. I know I have been. But, if I am a
guest at a Catholic church, will I be treated with grace, when so many
are only concerned about their own agendas, likes and dislikes and
pigeon holes? It’s a toss-up. The only agenda should be the Good News of
Jesus Christ.
Yes, we need an overhaul! Vatican II attempted a start, but after
re-arranging the sanctuary furniture, imposing other alterations without
explanation, and angering many, it fizzled.
Let’s pray the Holy Spirit “plays through” and purifies our Church so to
make It and us in His image. We pray the Lord helps us in being gracious
and not judgmental.
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