Exodus 24:3-8 / Matthew 13:24-30 (2019)
We may know of some people who have left the Church because of a bad experience.
The bad experience can be anything from being told off by a priest to an argument with another Catholic in Church.
And their common grouse is this - How can Church people / Catholics be like this?
Yes, how can Catholics or people who go to Church be like this? Just what is the Church all about?
Well, ideally we would think that the Church is made up of good and nice people who would not give any kind of trouble whatsoever.
After all the Church is called the Holy Catholic Church.
Yet if Jesus came for sinners, then the Church is also refuge for sinners and a place where sinners will slowly learn to be saints.
The Church is essentially the font of God's grace for these kind of people, and no one in the Church can ever say that he is without sin.
In other words, the Church is certainly not a garden without weeds or darnel, as reflected in the parable in the gospel.
Even Jesus Himself did not weed out people like Peter and Judas, and He even gave hope to sinners who want to repent.
May we acknowledge that we are indeed sinners but let us also acknowledge the power of God's grace.
May we journey on in repentance and conversion and may others see the Church as a sign of salvation.