What would a modern Jesus do about Opus Dei?
It's interesting that the Catholic church, after many centuries, came down against the belief in reincarnation. To prove its point, it made sure that one of the leading theologians of early centuries, Origen, was not canonised, made a saint.
Yet, mainstream Christian teaching tells us Jesus pre-existed his human form, rose from the dead and then appeared in a new body which could walk through walls. And Jesus will apparently reappear on earth at the end of time.
Amongst all that, I would challenge - in my amateur way - the most orthodox theologian to definitively rule out the possibility that Jesus has not come down here in various incarnations since the 1st century AD.
So let's imagine what he would make of Opus Dei. I imagine that if he met a distressed Opus Dei member who felt bound in conscience to stay in Opus Dei, he would simply tell them that Opus Dei is a human institution, not a divine one, and that it has no authority to bind the consciences of individuals.
Of course, there is no telling if any such person would "see" Jesus for who he is, though it is more likely that the heavily oppressed would.
If a modern Jesus came across senior Opus Dei leaders, I believe that we would have a replay of his interactions with the Pharisees of 1st century Israel/Palestine. Jesus would see their black hearts and be public about this. He would tell them in God's name to stop what they are doing. He would have his version of turning over the tables in the temple in protest at their blasphemy.
In return, Opus Dei leaders would refuse to accept Jesus for who he is, perhaps say he is from the devil - like the Pharisees did. They would try to ignore him and once this became impossible, agitate and manoeuvre against him.
No doubt, many good people over the 100 miserable years of Opus Dei have tried to speak in God's name to the founder and leaders, remonstrating about the abuses and errors. However, they have not cut through the coercion and lies in enough depth to shake the institution. Jesus also failed against the Pharisees at the time.
But Jesus also prophesied that "not one stone would be left on another". This is traditionally thought to refer to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in AD 70 and the dispersal of the Jewish people.
I believe Opus Dei is under the same judgment. Perhaps it will fade out over several decades or perhaps the fading will end sooner with a sudden collapse.
If Pope Leo suppressed Opus Dei for just 6 months, it would give enough time for most members to make significant progress in deconditioning - as long as they kept their distance from leaders and priests. They would regain sufficient autonomy to make some freer decisions as to what Opus Dei, Catholicism and God mean to them and what sort of spiritual life to have moving forward.
After 6 months, Pope Leo could meet the leaders of Opus Dei again in a new way and talk terms more as equals, with some new-found humility on the Opus Dei side - or what would be left of it.
