The gospel is not written as a public relations piece. The words were profound. It came from the sermon on Mark 8:29 when Jesus asks his disciples, Who do you say I am?
The sermon pointed to how often we, church officials, government officials, are more concerned about image than substance. We do not want to appear imperfect, and so we grossly exaggerate our goodness and cover up our failings. As a Church, we have done this to an embarrassing degree. This is counter to the spirit of the Gospels.
The Gospels are full of very human individuals.The gospels tell the story of how Jesus' friends got it wrong time and time again. No attempt is made in the stories to cover up their words or explain their regrettable actions away.
I am reminded how, in 2000, Pope John Paul II publicly apologized to the world for the crimes committed by the Catholic Church. It was the first time I had ever heard a church official publicly admit that the church had done wrong in the name of God. John Paul II not only said the words openly, he wrote them in an official document so posterity would never forget it. It did not shake my faith; it actually restored it.
I think the ultimate message we should get from all of this is, get rid of the chaff and do away with pretense. For the honest truth is far more attractive. No one wants to hear the rhetoric.
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