Good day, Bishop Muhich,
Please know that I seek to know as much about our mysterious God in every possible manner, which means that, yes, I have spent much time searching in countless non-Catholic, as well as Catholic corners. Nevertheless, I remain Catholic in its most strict sense because I believe in the grace and strength, the virtue, that comes through Holy Communion.
Many years ago, I attended a three-day Christian conference that was found to be standing room only for those late to arrive each day although it was a large stadium with several thousand seats. Because of the enormous tightly packed crowd, it was perhaps a bit too warm, yet a pleasing Spirit-filled atmosphere where numerous conference speakers had, as I recall, a worthy message. Oddly enough, I recall nothing of what those speakers actually had to say; however, I do recall very clearly what a Roman Catholic priest had to say, that same week, during the Saturday evening homily at a majestic cathedral of which I walked to immediately after the conference had closed.
The gospel that day was about the boy, Jesus, found teaching in the temple by his Mother and Joseph. What the priest had said that can still be recalled succinctly is this: “Well, of course this probably really didn’t happen.” Hmm…perhaps not everyone should teach Holy Scripture…Yet, even after hearing such an incredible proclamation of unbelief, I continue to receive Holy Communion from this same priest. Which by the way was also in a very large building with hundreds of empty seats and perhaps only 50 persons in attendance. We know that St Augustine claims, “Despite any dark clouds of sin within the spirit of the priest, the virtue of the Holy Sacrament will proceed,” and this is why no sin-ridden person is going to dissuade me from receiving Holy Communion.
As such, we have great reason to believe that God’s sovereign will is accomplished despite us. Through His grace, we ever so slowly learn to become less an obstacle to His will on Earth as it is in Heaven. So, then, we all have reason to hope in appearing as Christ when He appears. That is to say as the Apostle Paul claims looking like Christ in the spirit is what we are called to do.
“This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.'” John 3:2
Refer also to Romans 8. Consider the following verse from Romans 8:17 — “And if we are children, then we are heirs, heirs of God and join-heirs with Christ, provided that we share His suffering, so as to share His glory.”
God teases us to chase Him as if in a game of hide-and-seek. For those who sincerely follow Him, it becomes less a game and more like a graceful dance with well-timed steps of faithful expectation.
You, as Bishop of this diocese, have the opportunity to attract many into His dance…
Cheers with Love,
v
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