I exhort the presbyters among you...
Tend the flock of God in your midst,
overseeing not by constraint but willingly,
as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
Lay folks -- Catholics, Christians and others -- often suppose the Catholic Church is a highly disciplined and extraordinarily efficient organization. They think that priests, bishops and cardinals ask "How high?" when the pope says "Jump!" Some few of us wish it were so; unless, of course, I'm the one being told to jump.
When people ask me how the authority in my Franciscan Community works I explain, "They tell me where to go and I tell them where to go. And then we talk."
The truth is, at least here in the United States, most priests, brothers and sisters are citizens and there are few constraints on our freedom. When a priest decides to get in his car and drive away, to marry and take a secular job, his bishop or religious superior can do little about it. If he has taken valuable goods with him he might be pursued as a thief. If he wants payment or a pension for his years of service he'll be reminded of certain documents he signed several years ago, when he took vows or accepted ordination. If he decides to set up his own "Catholic" church the bishop's lawyers can block his use of the word "Catholic."
Beyond that the priest is a free citizen, as are the religious monks, nuns, sisters and brothers. Often those who leave obedience must fall back on their family resources to begin a new life; but, if they leave soon enough, they generally manage pretty well. A few like to remain in the area as gadflies to the local church, drawing disenchanted Catholics with them into their mini-congregations.
But, by and large, the Roman Catholic Church is held together by our willing obedience. Young people who consider joining the ranks of the Church's leadership as priests, brothers or sisters often suppose the hard part is celibacy. It is a challenge at first, for the first several years.
As the years pass the real cross is obedience, and that's as it should be. Experience and age convict one of one's own opinions; habits are calcified; expectations become assumptions and privileges become entitlements.For most of us, the bishops and superiors are regarded as friends at first. They are former teachers, heroes and mentors; and then classmates. Later on, they become young whippersnappers.
Eventually obedience becomes more than a distant ideal; it evolves into a thorn in the flesh. The reality of passing years digs into one's life. Aging shears away possibilities, the idle daydreams of living on one's own and pursuing one's own interests.
The Book of Exodus has a useful verse: Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.(Ex 1:8) After four hundred years in Egypt, the Hebrew descendants of Abraham had learned to take their freedoms for granted. Suddenly their prospects changed dramatically. There was no rationality to the change. It was not deserved or predictable. But it was as real as politics.
I knew a friar who reflected on the coming of a new guardian to his community. "It was like the difference between night and day."
As we celebrate the "Chair of Saint Peter" we thank God for the gift and cross of obedience. Every Catholic must come to terms with the reality of the Church. Some are challenged by our teachings on marriage. (As far as I can tell, marriage has always been and always will been subject to controversy.) Some feel disenfranchised by our teachings on abortion and birth control.
Sadly, some are marginalized by racism, sexism and other bigotries in the pews and among the clergy. I think especially of the African-Americans who were welcome to attend the Catholic Churches -- so long as they stayed in the back and received the Eucharist after everyone else. Those strictures disappeared only in the 1970's. Their courageous witness to our Most Blessed Sacrament will remain so long as the story is told.
Obedience to church authority is probably a cross for everyone at some point in their life. But it is also the Glory of Jesus shining brightly throughout the centuries. Not without reason do we sing,
When people ask me how the authority in my Franciscan Community works I explain, "They tell me where to go and I tell them where to go. And then we talk."
The truth is, at least here in the United States, most priests, brothers and sisters are citizens and there are few constraints on our freedom. When a priest decides to get in his car and drive away, to marry and take a secular job, his bishop or religious superior can do little about it. If he has taken valuable goods with him he might be pursued as a thief. If he wants payment or a pension for his years of service he'll be reminded of certain documents he signed several years ago, when he took vows or accepted ordination. If he decides to set up his own "Catholic" church the bishop's lawyers can block his use of the word "Catholic."
Beyond that the priest is a free citizen, as are the religious monks, nuns, sisters and brothers. Often those who leave obedience must fall back on their family resources to begin a new life; but, if they leave soon enough, they generally manage pretty well. A few like to remain in the area as gadflies to the local church, drawing disenchanted Catholics with them into their mini-congregations.
But, by and large, the Roman Catholic Church is held together by our willing obedience. Young people who consider joining the ranks of the Church's leadership as priests, brothers or sisters often suppose the hard part is celibacy. It is a challenge at first, for the first several years.
As the years pass the real cross is obedience, and that's as it should be. Experience and age convict one of one's own opinions; habits are calcified; expectations become assumptions and privileges become entitlements.For most of us, the bishops and superiors are regarded as friends at first. They are former teachers, heroes and mentors; and then classmates. Later on, they become young whippersnappers.
Eventually obedience becomes more than a distant ideal; it evolves into a thorn in the flesh. The reality of passing years digs into one's life. Aging shears away possibilities, the idle daydreams of living on one's own and pursuing one's own interests.
The Book of Exodus has a useful verse: Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.(Ex 1:8) After four hundred years in Egypt, the Hebrew descendants of Abraham had learned to take their freedoms for granted. Suddenly their prospects changed dramatically. There was no rationality to the change. It was not deserved or predictable. But it was as real as politics.
I knew a friar who reflected on the coming of a new guardian to his community. "It was like the difference between night and day."
As we celebrate the "Chair of Saint Peter" we thank God for the gift and cross of obedience. Every Catholic must come to terms with the reality of the Church. Some are challenged by our teachings on marriage. (As far as I can tell, marriage has always been and always will been subject to controversy.) Some feel disenfranchised by our teachings on abortion and birth control.
Sadly, some are marginalized by racism, sexism and other bigotries in the pews and among the clergy. I think especially of the African-Americans who were welcome to attend the Catholic Churches -- so long as they stayed in the back and received the Eucharist after everyone else. Those strictures disappeared only in the 1970's. Their courageous witness to our Most Blessed Sacrament will remain so long as the story is told.
Obedience to church authority is probably a cross for everyone at some point in their life. But it is also the Glory of Jesus shining brightly throughout the centuries. Not without reason do we sing,
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,Till all the world adore His sacred Name.
Led on their way by this triumphant sign,The hosts of God in conquering ranks combine. (Refrain)
Each newborn servant of the CrucifiedBears on the brow the seal of Him Who died. (Refrain)
O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,As Thou hast promised, draw the world to Thee. (Refrain)
So shall our song of triumph ever be:Praise to the Crucified for victory. (Refrain)
I wrote and posted this a few days before the Holy Father stunned the world with his announcement.
ReplyDelete