"Jesus Saves"

Once, when Peter and John were going up to the Temple for the prayers at the ninth hour, it happened that there was a man being carried past. He was a cripple from birth; and they used to put him down every day near the Temple entrance called the Beautiful Gate so that he could beg from the people going in. When this man saw Peter and John on their way into the Temple he begged from them. Both Peter and John looked straight at him and said, "Look at us." He turned to them expectantly, hoping to get something from them, but Peter said, "I have neither silver nor gold, but I will give you what I have: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!" (Acts 3:1-6, JB) The lame of the world still come to the Body of Christ and look at us expectantly, as they looked at Peter and John, hoping to get something form us. What does the Church say to them in many and varied forms? "Silver and gold we have plenty of. Come, join our parish. We have a credit union, very democratic. We have a pastoral council. We have a guitar Mass. We're very avant-garde, hanging banners in our church. We're up to date and well meet your every need. We have a St. Vincent de Paul society." But no one has the courage to say: "May I talk to you about Jesus? Let me pray with you. The Lord will teach you the meaning of forgiveness. The Lord will teach you the meaning of Church, of the Scriptures. Come, follow Jesus!" Are we ashamed of Jesus? Do we share him? It feels naive, old-fashioned, pious, and a bit Protestant, to talk about Jesus. We have Church. We have sacraments, we have priests and bishops! Yet Jesus alone saves. The apostles speak with boldness and with fire. Jesus did it! In the name of Jesus all power is given to me! Every time they return they proclaim the name of Jesus Christ. What has happened to the Church that so many are no longer proud of Jesus?

from Richard Rohr The Great Themes of Scripture