Healing the Church

*Picture taken in Philadelphia, PA

A Practice in Listening to the Inner Voice of Love 
 

For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

—1 Peter 2:13-17

Beloved,

Church can be a beautiful experience of the unity of my body. It can lead you into a deeper encounter with my presence and form you more into my image.

Yet every earthly institution, even when housing the Divine, is also human. Churches will never reflect my character perfectly. Dioceses, Cathedrals, parishes, faith communities, and religious organizations will always be a partial embodiment of my shalom (wholeness, wellbeing, peace).

When religious institutions don’t accurately represent me it can be deeply troubling and disorienting. How could a place of safety become unsafe? How could a source of love become an agent of abuse? How could Jesus’ teachings reinforce oppressive systems like sexism and racism, or violence against people groups?

I see all the broken aspects. I am grieving the pain this brokenness is causing, and the pain from which it is deriving. Remember that this point in time isn’t the end of the story. I am still bringing all of creation back into the fullness of my love, including my beloved community, the universal church. I am healing wounds and fractures; preserving the sacrament of my body.

Beloved, even in the darkest hour, my divine spark—found within my beloved community—cannot be extinguished.

—Love