Wrestle but remain faithful

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today is the Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs, who help guide the Church during time of persecution and those who "had denied their faith during the time of persecution."

One of the roles of bishops is to guide the flock on the path to salvation and, sometimes, that means correcting false and erroneous teachings. We see this in today's first reading when Saint Paul at the correct the Corinthians who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, saying: "If Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some among you say there is nor resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ been raised. . . we are also false witnesses to God, because we testified against God that he raised Christ."

The question is, how receptive are the flock to correction from their shepherds who tries to keep their flock in communion with the Church and in union with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Are we malleable, like clay in a potter's hand? Are we docile to the Holy Spirit? Or are we stiff-necked peoples whose heart are hardened against God and the teachings of the Church? We see examples of those throughout Church history - those who remain in communion with the Church and then there are schisms, etc.

I tell many young adults/couples who struggle with their Catholic faith that it is okay for them to doubt and question. I encourage them to wrestle with it but continue to remain faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ and continue to attend Mass and pray. God does not and will never abandon us, let us not abandon Him and his Church, because Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the path to salvation and eternal life.

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Gospel of the Day

Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another,
preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.
Accompanying him were the Twelve
and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza,
Susanna, and many others
who provided for them out of their resources.