Why do we stay in the Church when the failings of its leaders are so public and painful?

This week, Fr Sam reflects on the image of the boat in the Gospel of John. More than just a fishing vessel, it becomes a symbol of the Church itself. When the apostles try to fish on their own, they fail. But when they listen to the voice of Jesus, the net overflows. It is a powerful reminder that without Christ, the Church is empty. With Him, it is alive.

Fr Sam speaks candidly about the pain and disillusionment so many feel when the Church seems lost or broken. He shares his own experience of entering the priesthood in a time when trust in the Church was at its lowest. But he reminds us that we are not here because of the human leaders who sometimes falter. We are here because Jesus chose this boat. And when His voice is followed, the mission of salvation continues.

This homily is an invitation to see the Church not as an institution of control, but as the vessel Christ Himself steers. It is a call to remain faithful, to pray for our leaders, and to trust that God still works through the net of the Church to gather the world to Himself.

We stay in the boat not because it is perfect, but because Christ is in it

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