BONE-LOVERS

The Church has been, and still is in many places, like dry bones. Even "the Church of the living God" (1 Tm 3:15) may be dead in part for a long time because of sin. When we see the Church in all the ugliness of sin and death, we surely don't feel like loving her as Christ loved her (Eph 5:25). Dry bones are not very lovable. Nevertheless, dry bones never come to life unless someone prophesies over them with love (Ez 37:4), for without love even prophecy is worthless (1 Cor 13:2).

Jesus proclaimed that the whole law and the prophets are based on two commandments (Mt 22:40), the last of which is: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Mt 22:39). This love of neighbor certainly includes loving the Church no matter what her condition.

Leaving the Church is not loving the Church. Staying, suffering, praying, and prophesying is loving the Church. Pray to accept God's grace to love the Church as she is, so as to transform her into what she is called to be. "Love never fails" (1 Cor 13:8). "Love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Pt 4:8). Love the Church as Christ does (Eph 5:25).