“Keep Salt in Yourself” by Beth DeCristofaro
Delay not your conversion to the LORD, put it not off from day to day. For suddenly his wrath flames forth; at the time of vengeance, you will be destroyed. (Sirach 5:7)
"Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another." (Mark 9:50)
Piety
Come, Holy Spirit…Come, purify your Church. Come, Lord Jesus, be our one truly Good Shepherd, especially when our other shepherds fail us...Jesus, Good Shepherd, protect our children…bring the healing that can only come from you to all victims of abuse…and lead us as a Church, especially as Church leaders, through the repentance and purification we need to be more truly your disciples and serve you by our lives.[i]
Fr. Phil Hurley, St. Raphael the Archangel Parish, Raleigh, NC
Study
The full Gospel reading recounts Jesus warning the disciples that it is better to cut off a hand, a foot, an eye than being led into sin through one of them. Today our Church and her members are hurting, betrayed, and in need of spiritual strength as well as justice. Jesus’ message, again and again, is love, humility, the subservience of selfishness in order to follow him to the Cross and into resurrection. What must be cut off in order to restore his Body?
In Cursillo, we strive to be friends of Christ and bring new friends to Christ. Our striving for personal and ongoing conversion is dependent on and opens us to the movement of the Spirit which will renew the face of God’s Holy Church. Our saltiness is our vital faith. Our faithfulness can be shared, needs to be shared, with those who have been hurt, marginalized and denigrated. Our bishops and priests need our collaboration, “oversight, expertise, and accountability” (Archbishop W. Gregory) and our fervent prayers.
Action
Starting with me, how do I keep from becoming insipid? How can I inspire and work for church well-being? Sr. Veronica’s wise words encourage a posture of humility and God’s leavening, leading presence.
Check out https://www.5theses.com/ for a way to share your faith, your hope, your voice, your body with our ailing church.
1) Full transparency
2) Survivors’ voices
3) Simple Living
4) Put women in church leadership
5) Pray for a reformed church
Illustration: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=bro.%20mickey%20o%27neill%20mcgrath%20osfs&epa=SEARCH_BOX
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