Incessant Scandal

Gospel: Luke 17: 1-6

Jesus does say that scandal is inevitable, and those are the only words we hear.  We no longer hear the woe and the warning to avoid scandal.  It has become second nature to have scandal as part of church life.  Not a day goes by that we do not hear of some scandal - financial, sexual, or otherwise.  We have grown accustomed to the church lusting for political power, influence, and riches.  It is merely one more institution of power on Main Street next to the bank and titans of industry.  

In spite of all this scandal that is the sole cause of secularization and the loss of faith in our world, there are people who continue to seek to imitate the life of the Lord Jesus.  They seek to extend mercy and loving kindness to others in the ways that Jesus did - through healing, freeing others from their demons, and feeding them at table, reaching out to all people, especially the poor, marginalized, and outcasts in our society.  They do this in spite of the institution, and in spite of the scandals it creates and defends.  

Jesus fled into the desert to face the temptations of the world.  He rejected them all - the power, the influence, the riches.  If we are to be like Jesus, we too must go to the desert and face these trials, making the same choice Jesus did.  It is in the desert that we will also find the cleansing waters of baptism and the bread Jesus multiplies for our benefit.  The desert is the place to repent of scandal and to avoid any and all future scandals.