John Chuchman by himself produces a mountain of material for reflection each week that rivals what all of us produce on Catholica. In the midst of his last series of Sunday reflections on our website he produced another series that was even picked up by Tom Fox on NCR. John captures the mood of many who have been giving up on the institution but who haven't given up on Jesus or the search for a spirituality that speaks to their lives and experiences today. Here is the series of four reflections from John which have been attracting comment in all sorts of places. Use the navigation links to access each reflection.

Series Navigation: Reflection I | Reflection II | Reflection III | Reflection IV

Reflection I: Turning Point

I have struggled so long
not wanting to be possessed
by my anger
with what the corrupt hierarchs have been doing
to my Church.

Though I have come to realize
that the church of the hierarchs
is not my Church,
and that WE as The Body of Christ are Church,
institutional church
was too much of my past
for me
just to leave quietly.

Well, God knows,
as do many hundreds of others,
that I have not expressed my grief and my anger
quietly.

But it dawned on me last night,
that if I died this moment,
too many people would recall me
only as rabble-rouser,
not really my most important gift.

Those who do know me well
know I am a man in and of Love,
know that I believe God is Love,
know that I trust that
when we live in Love, We live in God,
and God is us.
That is how I wish to be remembered.

So,
I think I'd better
just move on
and let the hierarchs
have the church of their making
while focusing my efforts
on helping Grievers and their Caregivers
and on Spiritual Growth and Nurturing,
on Love.

Love, John

You'll find other reflections from John on his blog.

Series Navigation: Reflection I | Reflection II | Reflection III | Reflection IV

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John Chuchman

[Index of Commentaries by John Chuchman]