What does the Spirit say to the Church of Pergamum (Rev 2:12-17)? The people of that church community were applauded that they held fast to the name of Jesus and to faith in Jesus. But some exhibited in their lives ways contrary to right living. To be truly victorious in Jesus we must align our life with the true faith, our morals with the beliefs of the church, our external actions with our words, our public and private life with the life of an authentic witness for Jesus Christ.

It is not enough to believe in Jesus, we must believe in those he has sent in his name and in the power of the Spirit to teach and guide us. What Jesus said to the Apostles he continues to say to those he has set in authority over the church. "He who hears you, hears me. He who rejects you, rejects me. And he who rejects me, rejects him who sent me"(Lk 10:16). "I solemnly assure you, he who accepts anyone I send accepts me, and in accepting me accepts him who sent me" (Jn 13:20).

There are many issues today in which people disagree with some of the teachings of the Church. Like the disciples who heard Jesus speak very emphatically about his Body to eat and his Blood to drink, there is a tendency to walk away or disassociate from this or that teaching because it is too hard to believe and accept. The rich young man walked away from his desire for eternal life because the cost presented to him by Jesus was too great to accept. Judas couldn't wait for the plan of Jesus to bring about the Kingdom. He had to make it happen as he perceived it.

While not understanding all things, while not seeing the rational of this teaching, practice or discipline in the Church, while hearing and agreeing with arguments which seem more plausible on the human level, we are called to make our response that of Peter. When the disciples left Jesus over the teaching concerning the Eucharist, Jesus asked the twelve: "Do you want to leave me too?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe, we are convinced that you are God's holy one" (Jn 6:67-69).

Like the Church in Pergamum, if we want to share in the fuller life of the Spirit, we need to put our faith in the name, power and authority of Jesus, made present to us in the authentic teaching Magisterium of the Church. While asking questions and seeking greater clarity, we continue to give assent to the teachings of the Church. For it is better to err through obedience than to err through pride and the human need to be right.