Principalities and powers

As divisions in the Church reach an astonishing screeching pitch, one particular Scripture passage has been on my mind.

 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We are in a cosmic battle, not a war against fellow Catholics. One of our common enemy’s most powerful tactics of division is also his easiest to employ: anger, hatred, resentment,  scorn, sarcasm, schism.

I think we should muster ourselves and turn against the evil one who threatens us, instead of fighting constantly among ourselves. All of the easy points have already been scored.

Yes, there are blatantly corrupt prelates. But there are also shining examples of exemplary bishops. Why not talk about them?

Yes, there are public menaces who speak in bewildering scattershot against the faith while pretending to represent it. But there are also faithful priests and teachers who live both their vocations and their apostolates in extraordinarily fruitful lives of service. Why are the most-read blogs not full of their stories?

Yes, there are goofy and often tragic abuses of Catholic institutions. But there is also a constant flowering of new and effective initiatives for the authentic spread of the Gospel. Why aren’t these stories going viral?

In every age, the most effective defenders of the Catholic faith are the saints whom God gives to the Church. I suggest we find them and follow them into the real battle, and make their radiance more widely known.