bleeding out loud

“In starting out anew, the church has made a choice. It has forbidden in advance any homesickness for what it is leaving behind. It welcomes and already loves what is lying before it. It is still here; but no longer here; not there yet, but already there. It has a long journey before it, as well as battles, suffering, hunger, and thirst. There is no denying that it is sighing, but still more undeniably, it is rejoicing. And it thinks, speaks, and acts accordingly. The new start of the church consists in this crisis of the still captive, already liberated people of God.”