24th Week in OT 2019 - Wednesday - Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth

I came across a small booklet at my home parish in Madison, many years ago. It was titled, “Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth”, those two epithets in reference, of course, to the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

As God guided the Israelites on their exodus from Egypt by giving them a pillar of fire to light their way across the dark wilderness  (Exod. 13:21), today God guides us through his Catholic Church.

And in this age of countless competing religions, each clamoring for attention, one voice rises above the din: the Catholic Church, which St. Paul calls “the pillar and foundation of truth” (1 Tim. 3:15) in our first reading today.

“Great is Artemis of Ephesus” cried the rioting crowd of Ephesus when Paul challenged their idolatry with the Gospel. The pagan peoples throughout the centuries have all claimed greatness for their various gods. But Paul counters the pagan cries with “Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion”, that is Christ. For the Christian God does not remain hidden in some unreachable realm, but he has “manifested in the flesh”. He is visible.

So too, his Church, the pillar of fire, the pillar of truth is visible. The power of her holiness can be seen in the saints, the power to transform lives of dissipation into lives of heroic sanctity.

And as pillar of truth, the Church clearly teaches the truth of the Gospel without compromise with the errors of the world. And she has clear, visible structures to oversee and govern this teaching mission: her hierarchical structure, the teaching magisterium, the pope, and the Apostles who order and lead with authority coming from Christ Himself.

Any merely human organization with such members would have collapsed early on. And her vigor, with over a billion members, one sixth of the human race, is not simply a testimony to the cleverness of the Church’s leaders, but to the presence of the Holy Spirit, guiding her and protecting her.
As a pillar of truth, she is often in conflict to those who belong to the world, as the Lord describes in the Gospel today, the people of this generation who, like children in the marketplace yell out calls of mockery and disdain.

But we know that through Holy Church, we have union with God Made Flesh, Jesus Christ, Our Lord, our assurance of eternal life, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That our Holy Father, all the bishops, priests, and deacons of the Church will courageously preach the Truth of the Gospel in its fullness.
For the purification of Holy Church from all error and heresy, especially among those who preach and teach.
That the fire of the Holy Spirit may be evident in all members of the Church, and in this parish community.
For mercy and peace for all those who suffer: for the sick and diseased, for those undergoing surgery this week, for the destitute and despairing, for all victims of war, violence, and abuse, and for those who will die today and the consolation of their families.
For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, and for N., for whom this mass is offered.
O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.