We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful...
Devastating news.
The announcement came today. I expected it would one day - but not so soon. I never expected Bishop Piche's resignation along with the Archbishop's. This is devastating news - the resignation of a prelate, a father, the chief shepherd of an unsteady flock. Like him or not - he has been the leader of the flock in Minneapolis-St. Paul. A casualty now of scandals and lies and misdemeanors and abuse and weakness and sin and not knowing how to handle scandals and lies and misdemeanors and abuse and weakness and ...
Nienstedt, deputy resign after abuse coverup charges against archdiocese.
Archbishop John Nienstedt said he leaves ‘with a clear conscience.’ - Read more here.
The readings from today's Mass...
Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.
We cause no one to stumble in anything,
in order that no fault may be found with our ministry;
on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves
as ministers of God, through much endurance,
in afflictions, hardships, constraints,
beatings, imprisonments, riots,
labors, vigils, fasts;
by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness,
in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in truthful speech,
in the power of God;
with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left;
through glory and dishonor, insult and praise.
We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful;
as unrecognized and yet acknowledged;
as dying and behold we live;
as chastised and yet not put to death;
as sorrowful yet always rejoicing;
as poor yet enriching many;
as having nothing and yet possessing all things. - 2 Cor. 6:1-10
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Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one to him as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand him your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go with him for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.” - Mt. 5: 38-42
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
The fact remains it is devastating news. The Archdiocese has filed bankruptcy, properties are up for sale, venerable parish churches have been closed - one from my childhood became a mosque. This is devastating news ...
By the rivers of Babylon
there we sat and wept,
remembering Zion;
on the poplars that grew there
we hung up our harps.
For it was there that they asked us,
our captors, for songs,
our oppressors, for joy.
"Sing to us," they said,
"one of Zion's songs."
O how could we sing
the song of the Lord
on alien soil?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
let my right hand wither!
O let my tongue
cleave to my mouth
if I remember you not,
if I prize not Jerusalem
above all my joys!
Remember, O Lord,
against the sons of Edom
the day of Jerusalem;
when they said: "Tear it down!
Tear it down to its foundations!"
O Babylon, destroyer,
he is happy who repays you
the ills you brought on us.
He shall seize and shall dash
your children on the rock!
