There are sinners in the Church

From the very beginning, there have been sinners in the Church. Some have repented and been transformed. They lead a perfect life by exercising the charisma they receive from God to serve, suffering patiently and loving each other, even those who persecute them. But some take advantage of the freedom they gain and abuse it. In the reading today, Jude warns the churches to be vigilant.
For admission has been secretly gained by some who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly persons who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ (Jude 4).

Jude reminds the congregation that God delivered the Israelites from Egypt. Yet, God also destroyed them in the wilderness those who did not kick their old habit of idolatry.
Now I desire to remind you, though you were once for all fully informed, that he who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.
And the angels that did not keep their own position but left their proper dwelling have been kept by him in eternal chains in the nether gloom until the judgment of the great day (Jude 5-6).
Yes, even angels are not spared.

What did the sinners look like? How did they behave?
Yet in like manner (Sodom and Gomorrah) these men in their dreamings defile the flesh, reject authority, and revile the glorious one (Jude 8).
Those sinners continue their fleshy passions and do not obey the teaching authority of the Church.
These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own passions, loud-mouthed boasters, flattering people to gain advantage (Jude 16).
Do you find them familiar? We have seen a lot of such people in the Church flattering all their way to the top. How shall we deal with them? Avoid them? Pull them down?

Jude reminds the congregation also of the predictions by the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.
they (the apostles) said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." 
It is these who set up divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit (Jude 18-19).
Do you find them familiar? I am sure you do. But how shall we deal with them? Avoid them? Condemn them? Counsel them?
But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; 
keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 
And convince some, who doubt; 
save some, by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh (Jude 20-23).
We have to live with these sinners in the Church. This is the reality of life. Therefore we need all the more to strengthen our spirit through prayers, learning and waiting patiently for the Lord.
Strengthen others. Edify those who are weaker in faith. We need to build a strong team of allies to fight against these enemies from within. Extend a helping hand to pull sinners off the brink of downfall. Have mercy to forgive and reconcile. But towards evil acts, stand firm to condemn.

To outsiders, the Church has been too lenient and tolerant. They expect to see paedophiles exposed and locked up in jail. But the Church only move them around to other organizations. To workers of Church organizations, they expect their bosses to be visionary leaders. Yet, their bosses forget the benefits of the clients and focus more on doing superficial things to boost their standings inside the Church. They don't feel the need to reconcile. So, our only options left are to pray, to study and to wait patiently for the Lord to take action.

Dear Lord, blessed are those who do not lose faith in times of frustration. Amen.