Trying to destroy the Church? Reflection for Wednesday, May 7, 2025

As we witness the start of the Conclave, do we really believe anything can destroy the Church? Are we anxious because we fear a certain person will be trying to destroy the Church if they become pope? Readings for Today.

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Trying to destroy the Church?

Have you found yourself getting caught up in the articles in the media about the papabile? That is, reading the articles that suggest who the frontrunners are to be the next pope? Because getting caught up in this misses in a significant way what a conclave is all about.

The secular media especially can only see this through the lens of a political election. They determine who they think are frontrunners. They place the cardinals in “political parties” so that they can create division and dissension. And we can get caught up in this ourselves.

Who could see the ultimate destiny for Saint Paul? Because today we see Saint Paul (while he is still called Saul) “trying to destroy the Church.” And to be sure his actions caused fear and anxiety among the new Christian Church. And in human terms alone, we could reduce the outcome God intends for Paul with what he is doing today.

Because we see Saul today trying to destroy the Church. And his beliefs are such that the motivation for this is his own religious faith. He believes the Messiah will only come if the observance of the Law is complete among the Jews. So be trying to destroy the Church Paul is seeking to remove a barrier to following the Law of Moses.

But this is not the final destiny. This is not what God wants for Saul. We will see the will of God for Saul (who becomes Paul) later this week. But we see in today’s readings something quite important. Saul is not more powerful than God. The Holy Spirit is still moving people to proclaim the gospel.

We saw earlier that it was Peter and John. Then it was Saint Stephen. Today it is Philip. The message of the Acts of the Apostles is really that there is just no stopping the Holy Spirit. Because God the Holy Spirit will build on the preaching of Philip by raising up the great Saint Paul, who spreads the gospel in amazing ways.

Today I think we are being called to remember the promise of Jesus. The gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church. Jesus will remain with the Church to the end of the ages. And the conclave is not about a choice, but a discernment. The vocation of the Cardinals is to discern who it is at this time that God wants to be pope.

That means the conclave is quite different from an election. There are no campaign ads. There are no election posters. There are not televised debates filled with soundbites. The only persuasion that is needed in a conclave is the persuasion of the Holy Spirit.

And the same attitude should be ours too. We should pray for the conclave. Not a prayer about our hope that this or that cardinal will be the next pope. Rather, a prayer that the cardinals will listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. That the cardinals will choose a holy man. And that led by this holy man, we may follow Christ more closely and become holy too.

trying to destroy the church — Photo by Igor Kiianchuk on Pexels.com

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