Perfect Work - on our 'CO-RESPONSIBILITY' for the Church

The recent revelations of abuse within the ordained hierarchy of the Church has perhaps shifted our sense that "they" should fix things in the Church. Whoever you think "they" are, this is not the attitude that Pope St. John Paul II or Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI would suggest for us.Both JPII and BXVI called all the lay faithful to truly embrace our baptismal vocation to the mission of the Church and put our God-given talents in service to the Kingdom. For JPII, this was promoted as a New Evangelization. It was BXVI who used the term "co-responsibility" of the laity:

 “Co-responsibility demands a change in mindset especially concerning the role of lay people in the Church. They should not be regarded as ‘collaborators’ of the clergy, but, rather, as people who are really ‘co-responsible’ for the Church’s being and acting. It is therefore important that a mature and committed laity be consolidated, which can make its own specific contribution to the ecclesial mission.”(Speech on the Occasion of the Sixth Ordinary Assembly of the International Forum of Catholic Action, August, 2012).

This idea has found a place in the discussion of "lay ecclesial ministry" but has not yet been fully or widely explored or implemented. How can we be "really 'co-responsible' for the Church's being and acting"? Is there any connection between lay leadership and "clericalism"? What can each person in the pews do to promote the sense of co-responsibility?Those questions remain to be answered over time and study and prayer. But what can we do TODAY?The Church to which we belong by virtue of our baptism is in NEED of our talents, our energy, our prayer, and yes, our growing in holiness. We must renew our commitment to our families and homes, to our parishes and apostolates, to our priests and bishops. We must fulfill the duties before us as our service to Christ, praying and working together. Our united prayer is powerful! Let us then unite in prayer - in person, through technology, and in the "prayer-o-sphere." We are one in Christ, and He is present in our united prayer.This unity is important, but it is also important to remember that our union is not formed and maintained by our priests and bishops (though we NEED them!), but by the Sacrifice of Christ, continually renewed for us. We place all our hope in the Love and Mercy that gave Himself in sacrifice for us, the One Who purifies us, unites us, and binds us in love to Himself. And yet, we must do our part to grow in holiness, put our whole selves in service to the Gospel, and allow the Lord to use us  - imperfect instruments though we are - to accomplish His perfect Work in the world.