In today’s reading from Jeremiah, God sounds like a parent unable to get through to a teenager, or like a group of older people, like myself, shaking their heads at how different young people are today. “They don’t listen, they don’t pay attention, they go their own way.” And perhaps we may even have the temerity to claim: “Here are people that will not listen to the voice of the Lord, nor take correction.”

We create a very narrow world when the only way in which things should be done is our way. We grew up with a church that was perfect and always knew what was right. As good Catholics, we also knew what was right. Furthermore we defined being right in terms of keeping rules and regulations, attending Mass on Sundays, and obeying whatever instructions came to us from our priests, bishops or the Pope. “Father knows best”.

The much-publicised scandals of recent years have exploded the myth of a perfect church. Behind the splendour of ritual and hierarchy, we have come to see not only a deeply flawed church but one that tried to hide the truth from the public eye.

We need a healthy spirituality of imperfection. As individuals we are imperfect and our institutions are imperfect. Each one has something to learn from others and something to teach others. Relax. You do not have to have all the answers. Like John the Baptist you can say : “I am not the Messiah”! Share your wisdom and be curious about the wisdom of others, even your children. Enjoy your journey together.

A reflection written by John Byrne O.S.A., from our Irish Province

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