Sunday, June 28, 2009

Brotherhood

He is like us but more perfectly human, simple, poor, humble, and yet, while burdened with work, He is more patient. He spoke on our behalf; He worked miracles; and He founded a new kingdom: in it the poor are happy; peace is the foundation of a life in common; where the pure of heart and those who mourn are uplifted and comforted; the hungry find justice; sinners are forgiven; and all discover that they are brothers.--Pope Paul 6
 
This picture of life is a mystery to our world. Jesus came to bring Himself, and in doing so, He brings these virtues and states of being. But where are they? They are only found in His kingdom He ushered in. Where is this kingdom? Jesus said it is within us. These virtues and states of being are not so evident in this world of spiritual and emotional chaos. We see kindness and love occasionally, but too much we see blindness, heresy, and loneliness. This is why the Church is so important in our discovering how this "kingdom within" is to be traversed and embraced. Every kingdom has laws, language, atmosphere, ritual, direction, and authority. The Church Jesus builds on Peter is the Querencia for those who want to explore the kingdom within. Without the Church's authority, and the Sacraments, there could end up 33,000 denominations that can't agree on the most basics aspects of the kingdom. And thus, people who follow after Jesus will not discover their brotherhood. It's worth thinking about.
 
wkm

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