Those "Others" in the Church

They say they are good Christians or good Catholics, but their faith is quite obviously different from the teaching of Christ.

Their idea of good worship is unnerving.

We are sure that we would be better off without them.

In today’s first reading (Exodus 32:7-14), Moses finds himself alone in fidelity to the truth and the right worship of God. God offers him the option of getting rid of these other people and going on by himself as the pure beginning of a new People of God.

Some of us might jump at the chance.

Moses takes a different path: he prays for the people who have gone so badly astray and asks for God’s continued forbearance.

To be sure, we need to be clear about what is true and right. We muust also realize that there comes a point when people go so far astray that they have cut themselves off from the body of Christ.

God have mercy on us all.

Too many of us, however, too quickly write off other people as "extremists" or as "hopeless."

Too few of us follow the example of Moses and pray for those whose theology and/or practice is off base.

Yes, we need to be clear about what is right and what is true, but we also must pray sincerely and persistently for all those with whom we disagree and those fellow sheep of Christ who have strayed.