- Feb 5, 2002
- 190,364
- 70,494
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Female
- Faith
- Catholic
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Others
In the last few years, I have suffered some deep relational wounds. I know I am not the only one. And because so much of my life is lived within the community of the Church, many of these wounds — most of them even — have been within the very community whose aim is to bring us closer to Christ.
Many people, mostly those outside the Church, have encouraged me to leave, to find community elsewhere, to find people who will appreciate me. But how can I? Just as St. Peter replied when Christ asked if his disciples would leave him, I cry out, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68).
These wounds have brought me closer to Christ, and I know that without the Church, I am lost. And we are the Church. There is a saying, attributed to St. Teresa of Avila, that goes: “Christ has no body but your body; no hands, no feet on earth but yours.” We are broken and bruised, catty and uncharitable at our worst, but sound and sacred, gracious and generous and a glimpse of glory at our best.
I am not going anywhere.
I want to reflect Christ’s glorious body more clearly. Instead of dwelling on problems, I want to shine light on goodness, beauty and truth. I want to be part of a Church where a spirit of generosity flows effortlessly as an act of worship to our Savior. I speak of a life lived in the Spirit. Yet how can we cultivate a culture within the Church that reflects this goodness? How can the Church tell the story of how we can live?
Continued below.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
Many people, mostly those outside the Church, have encouraged me to leave, to find community elsewhere, to find people who will appreciate me. But how can I? Just as St. Peter replied when Christ asked if his disciples would leave him, I cry out, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68).
These wounds have brought me closer to Christ, and I know that without the Church, I am lost. And we are the Church. There is a saying, attributed to St. Teresa of Avila, that goes: “Christ has no body but your body; no hands, no feet on earth but yours.” We are broken and bruised, catty and uncharitable at our worst, but sound and sacred, gracious and generous and a glimpse of glory at our best.
I am not going anywhere.
I want to reflect Christ’s glorious body more clearly. Instead of dwelling on problems, I want to shine light on goodness, beauty and truth. I want to be part of a Church where a spirit of generosity flows effortlessly as an act of worship to our Savior. I speak of a life lived in the Spirit. Yet how can we cultivate a culture within the Church that reflects this goodness? How can the Church tell the story of how we can live?
Continued below.
Building a vibrant Catholic culture through artistic virtues
By embracing artistic virtues and generosity, we can heal relational wounds and cultivate a Catholic culture that mirrors Christ's love.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
