It is awe inspiring to see how God is in control of all things, how He reveals at the right time and conceals until due time. I do not doubt that the one who presently sits at the throne of Peter is there because God allows it. Is he the Pope? I am asked that question often. My answer is: “I do not know.” I know he is a Pope. How he got to be there, how he ascended to the throne of Peter, etc. are questions I can’t answer precisely. Jesus gave us a clear hint:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.” (John 10: 1-2)

The question is way above my paygrade but I can read John 10 and you can also. Draw your own conclusions and let God do what He wants to do. The Church is NOT a democracy and men of no importance should not concern themselves with high things. It is obvious that God permits certain events to happen: Babylonians and Romans defiled and destroyed God’s Temple in the past. Hordes of barbarians took the very people of God into slavery. Foreign Hasmonean kings ruled the Promised Land at the moment when Christ walked this Earth.

What happened to our spiritual ancestors could happen to us now. I am convinced that we have been slaves for a long time. Many of us remain blind to that fact. We have been in chains under hard masters, I know that much. For a meditation on that theme see Matthew 17:24-27. God has a way to rule that is very different from the way secular rulers govern. He does not mind to appear absent, He is in every detail anyway and yet He is not a control freak. He is simply—and terrifyingly—God.

So if an enemy of the Almighty is allowed to rule His Church by hook or crook, my response to that will be: nolo contendere, I do not wish to oppose a false ruler unless directed by God to do so. So far the only instruction has been the one we all know: “Contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) and “even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8-9) I never thought I would say this but, to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ it is not absolutely necessary to have a perfect Pope sitting on St. Peter’s Chair, although it helps a lot when we have a good Pope leading the charge against the forces of darkness.

When the voices out there call us to “save the Church” we should be very careful before following sword-in-hand soft warriors riding on white horses, pink rifles ready to shoot (lipstick bullets?) or euphoric calls shrieking on a background of dramatic music … spare me, oh Lord. The Church is the new Israel and the meaning of the word Israel is: “to God belongs the struggle”. Think of that very mysterious phrase. In one of its senses, God will struggle for us at the right time. “Do not be afraid. Be still [or “stand firm”] and know salvation by God” (Exodus 14:13) It takes a strong faith to stand still in battle while praying that the God that we know is there comes to help us. Israel went to battle many times and never lost a single soldier until one day, a band of Amorites killed 36 of a force of 3,000 (cf. Joshua 7) Then God revealed to Joshua why His protection had been withdrawn: Achan (cf. Meaning of the name Achan) had taken valuables from the things God had devoted to destruction after the battle of Jericho.

Many centuries later, a Roman lamenting the sack of Rome by barbarians concluded: “The sins of Rome made her enemies strong.” Why do we have to consider this? The principle is clear: it is not our strength what wins the battle but God’s. God demands fidelity of those whom He defends. Our purity is of the utmost necessity if we want God to win our battles for us. No purity, no victory. Most unfortunately, purity is a scarce resource these days. If we want to prevail in our struggle against the forces of evil we must be consecrated and perfected in purity just like Our Mother is. That is where the key to victory is, in our hearts where impurity grows out of our own inherited concupiscence. Lose lips sink ships and impure hearts lose spiritual battles. Forget the rifle and the sword, let the white horse go to pasture. There are ways to look like a fool without tiring the poor animal. Be a man: stop the impure thoughts, stop the slander and detraction, stop being mean and destructive with your brethren. Let God do the fighting, this is not Bonanza, this is the spiritual battle at the End Times and the battleground is: our heart.

I have lost my patience many times when the usual suspects do some of their usual desecrations. Forgive my being a bit feisty. I grew up in the streets, manners are not my forte, and I have a short fuse for traitors. I know the Church will seem to be adrift for a little while but will be returned to life by Christ Himself. We have discussed here recently how Matthew 9:18-26. Notice the basic message: firstly, woman has been bleeding for twelve years. Secondly, girl is only twelve and is apparently dead.

While he was thus speaking to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment; for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players, and the crowd making a tumult, he said, “Depart; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went through all that district. (Matthew 9:18-26)

Talitha, cummi …

As we reason through this, please observe the centrality of Jesus in this story. The woman had been sick for as long as the girl had been alive. The woman is technically unclean according to Mosaic Law. She should not be in a place where the crowd presses on her. She realizes somehow that touching the hem of Christ’s garment will heal her. She does it and it happens.

The woman represents the remnant of Israel at the end times when Christ arrives and draws all people to Him. Israel has been sick and bleeding since the deicide of 33 A.D. The Church has been alive since that same moment in time. Now the Church has to live her Passion just like her Master did. Somehow at the same time, the Jews will be drawn to the Messiah and will be restored to God’s grace after living their own Passion: the Shoah. Just like Israel had to suffer under their own Anti Christ, the Catholic Church will have to endure something similar under a future Anti Christ (cf. 1 John: 2:18)

I try to remember that one should not panic but I still panic from time to time. Times are scary even for a tough nail. Disregard my weak heart still fooled by an archaic sense of self-reliance. Our Lord appears  to sleep but the barque is safer than ever. The enemy won’t prevail. Those who suddenly raise and say “follow me lest we all perish!” are a dangerous ilk.

If you think yourself a knight in shining armor you are suffering from a narcissistic illusion, a messianic complex, the sin of Uzzah (cf. 2Samuel 6:3-7). Let us pray for all who fall into that particular trap of unbelief, one of the wiliest tricks of our diabolic enemy.

Uzzah paid with his life for daring to touch the Ark. Let us learn from his mistake. The Creator of the Universe cannot be distracted or caught up in negative circumstances: it is impossible for us to “help” Him in an “emergency”: that is crazy and a logical impossibility. What is God doing? I do not know but I know HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING. We have to go though this: Those who fall into temptation have my sympathy and prayers but NEVER my alliance. Only God will get us through this and apart from God no one else can help us.

Remember Israel means “the struggle belongs to God” and “stay still and see salvation by God”. Our job is to be faithful. The battle is already won BY GOD.