Back in the seminary all of us had a class in homiletics every semester. One of those times the teacher, a priest, told the class that we give the homily, if we are not egotistical, that we ourselves need to hear. I believed him then and I believe him now. I have witnessed many homilies that did not tie into the gospel or into the readings, that really did not tie into the world wide Church. I have a friend who points out that those homilies are from narcissists. I believe that too.

Truly, I do not care about your vacation unless you can tie it in, in some meaningful way, to the real and true teachings of Jesus Christ. Otherwise I’m not interested in your blather. Give me meat. Save my soul by showing me God and telling me what I authentically need to do to work out my salvation. If you cannot do that you are wasting my time.

This has happened to me on more than one occasion, a person does not want to hear the truth or totally misrepresents what you have said and confusion ensues. One example in my priesthood happened last year. The Director of Religious Education went to the pastor about a homily that I gave. She was not present. She had said that a lady, not even Catholic, left the mass crying. Really. I did not see it and I do not believe you. Supposedly a deacon left too. Again I did not see it and I do not believe you. After repeating what I allegedly said I was flabbergasted. I even went out of my way at the homily to say this was not taught at the seminary but was read by me a later time. (Written by a saint.) Her response was, Oh, I didn’t know that.

The sexual abuse scandal is the same way. Truth’s get twisted or misheard, people lie, clergy lie, and the abused are abused again. I have finally come to the realization that absolutely nothing will be done to correct this horrific situation. The bishops who have the most power in the Church have done nothing, and the lesser bishops cannot do anything because they do not have the power and are fearful of the powerful bishops. It must be akin to the hierarchy of the demons.

It will end eventually because God has promised us the the gates of Hell will not prevail against His Church. I am not defeated because I trust in that promise.