Christ Still Builds His Church

 Readings 050426 

We are all prosecuted for our faith.
Sometimes it comes from the people around us.
Sometimes from laws that normalize what is not of God.
Sometimes from the steady bombardment
of sin, noise, and immorality all around us.

But in every pressure,
we are called to protect what is of God—
His truth,
His Church,
His priesthood,
and our belief.

In the Acts of the Apostles,
Paul and Barnabas face real danger.
The Gentiles, the Jews, even their leaders
move together to attack and stone them.

But the apostles recognize the threat.
They step away.
And they keep proclaiming the Good News.
The pressure does not stop the mission.
It sharpens it.

I think of that when I hear the questions people carry today.
A friend of mine struggles with the priesthood—
not because he denies it,
not because he doubts apostolic succession,
but because the wounds of the Church are real.

Maybe his questions come from the scandals.
Maybe from the shortage of priests.
Maybe from clericalism that clouds a shepherd’s heart.
Maybe from the longing
for more good and holy priests.

And into that longing, Jesus speaks:
“Whoever loves me will keep my word…
and we will come to him
and make our dwelling with him.”

Christ has not abandoned His Church.
He dwells in her.
He purifies her.
He strengthens her.

So we pray.
We intercede.
We stay close to His Heart.
We protect what is His.

Let us pray for holy priests.
Let us pray for a purified and strengthened Church.
Because even when the world presses in,
Christ is still building His Church—
and no attack, ancient or modern,
can silence the Good News.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, 

Strengthen Your Church in every trial.
Guard Your priests with the fire of Your love.
Purify our hearts and heal what is wounded.
Raise up holy shepherds for Your people.
Make us faithful in prayer and steadfast in hope.
Draw us always to Your Sacred Heart. 

Amen