October 23, 2010 - Being in the Church, Not of It
   Being in the Church, Not of It   Often we hear the remark that we have to live in  the world without being of  the world.  But it may be more difficult to be in  the Church without being of  the Church.   Being of  the Church means being so preoccupied by and involved in the many ecclesial affairs and clerical "ins and outs" that we are no longer focused on Jesus.  The Church then blinds us from what we came to see and deafens us to  what we came to hear.   Still, it is in  the Church that Christ dwells, invites us to his table, and speaks to us words of eternal love.    Being in  the Church without being of it is a great spiritual challenge.      These reflections are taken from Henri J.M. Nouwen's Bread for the Journey.     Visit HenriNouwen.org  for more inspiration!