The Church faces several challenges
After the feasts of the Lord, it is time to return to everyday life. It is in this context that the Church faces several challenges that make us question ourselves.
The ‘burdened’ Church
One of the challenges is the ‘burdened’ Church, which is in the midst of a great demand for attention from many people. Sometimes this demand takes the form of many ‘sheep without a shepherd’ that we don’t know how to approach. In addition, we also face questioning, accusations and shouting that try to divert attention from the message of Jesus. This situation makes us see that we live in a time in which our communities and movements are prisoners of structures, heritages and organizations that, instead of facilitating pastoral care, hinder it.
The Community Church
Another challenge is the community Church, which must be our home and simultaneously the home of all people, regardless of their origin and thinking. It is important that we are ready to fulfill God’s will and to be a united community, especially in the liturgy. Our communities are becoming more diverse and colorful every day, as many Christians arrive from all over the world. We must resist the temptation to close ourselves in family, national or cultural ties. As Pope Francis says, our challenge is to welcome, protect, promote and integrate without paternalism.
The fight against evil
The third challenge is the fight against evil, which manifests itself in different forms. In Mark’s gospel, we see how evil presents itself in the form of unjust accusations against Jesus. We also see how evil manifests itself in the lack of responsibility and the tendency to blame others. This seemingly banal evil is the cause of inequality, injustice and death. We must actively fight against this evil.
Trust in the word of the Lord
Despite the challenges we face, we can trust the word of the Lord. As the psalm says, ‘faithful love and generous redemption belong to the Lord’. We must trust in this love and this redemption to overcome obstacles and live faithfully following Jesus.