WE NEED JESUS TO CLEAN THE CHURCH TODAY!

Prof./Evangel. Michael Howard, MACS

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

"Take these out of here, and stop making my Father's house a marketplace." (Jn. 2:13-22)

When I reflect on my church, there are times when complexities disturb my spiritual equilibrium. Acknowledging the Church as the Body of Christ that proclaims Jesus is Lord is inspiring, yet sometimes church leaders make decisions without involving parish members. Often, I find myself confused. The prophet Ezekiel spoke of the sanctuary in the Old Testament, depicting a vision of water flowing from a sacred tabernacle, yielding fresh fruits and leaves that serve as medicine for God's people (Ez. 46:1-12). However, many decisions I know of have resulted in bad fruits and worm-infested leaves.

For example, looking at the chart below you will see that the US Bishops closed 2,944 parishes from 2000 and 2023. Of course, there are several reasons why these decisions were made for the last 25 years as more and more churches are added to the list. Regardless of many reasons associated to these closings we have a problem, especially if decisions made by church authorities continue to be made without the faith community. The chart also reveals a decreased in vocations as well. If this trend continues, my church parish could be next if there is no priest to pastor our churches.

For instance, examining the chart below, you will notice that the US Bishops closed 2,944 parishes between 2000 and 2023. Naturally, there are various reasons behind these decisions over the past 25 years as more churches are added to the list. Despite the numerous reasons for these closures, we face a significant issue, particularly if church authorities continue to make decisions without involving the faith community. The chart also indicates a decline in vocations. If this trend persists, my church parish might be next if there is no priest to lead our church.

Bishop Accountability (Bishop-accountability.org)

Indeed, we have an issue, but it's important to note that this isn't solely a problem for the Catholic Church; many Protestant churches are also experiencing closures. I ponder, like St. Paul, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Cor. 3:16) Are our churches reflecting the sanctuary described by Ezekiel in the Old Testament? Can our churches offer "a stream of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High (Ps. 46:5)," amidst racism and sexism?

For this reason, we need Jesus to clean the church. Our baptismal robes have too many stains and creases. We have transformed our churches into marketplaces. Instead of selling "oxen, sheep, and doves," our church leaders are selling church buildings to avoid bankruptcy and support constituents who provide financial benefits through political backing. Many of our church leaders are not fostering a stream of hope to gladden the city of God, the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ, whose members built these church buildings with their blood, sweat, and tears, is never uplifted when the news breaks, "The Archdiocese is closing another parish."

For this reason, I hope that Jesus would come today to cleanse the Church. In the Gospel of John, it is written: "He fashioned a whip out of cords and drove everyone out of the temple area, along with the sheep and oxen, scattered the coins of the money-changers, and overturned their tables, and to those selling doves he said, "Take these things out of here, and stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace" (Jn. 2:15-16). We need this Jesus today to address our society. Come Jesus, inspire our church leaders. Guide them in finding ways to keep our Church doors open for all of God's children. Teach them how to distribute resources that bring hope to those affected by ICE agents, unjust laws, and government shutdowns. If the Church truly wishes to gladden the city of God, the Body of Christ, let them sell the "gold" in our shrines and give to the poor. The Church should never resemble a marketplace for the rich and famous!

"God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed; God will help it at the break of dawn" (Ps. 46:6).

Wont he make you clean, inside!

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