Friday, September 2, 2022

 Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 4:1-5; Luke 3:33-39)

Although the great Irish poet W.B. Yeats was not a Catholic, he perceived the goodness of priests.  In one poem, “The Ballad of Father Gilligan,” he tells of an old country priest who worked diligently, mostly visiting and burying the dead.  One evening, after a long day, Fr. Gilligan is informed that another parishioner is near death.  The priest utters a complaint and immediately checks himself.  Praying for forgiveness, he falls asleep.  Awakened in the middle of the night, he remembers the dying man and quickly mounts his horse to visit him.  When he arrives, the man’s widow tells him that her husband died right after the priest had left him.  Fr. Gilligan then thanks God for working a miracle.

What’s the point of this story?  In the reading from Corinthians St. Paul says that apostles are “stewards of the mysteries of God.”  Priests, who assist bishops, the successors of the apostles, with their pastoral work, must be likewise trustworthy.  Although not all have proved themselves so, there are many like Fr. Gilligan. 

Most of us have an opinion on whether married men or women could be ordained.  We might express it but should do so humbly.  Church leadership has a store of wisdom gathered through the centuries to resolve these questions.  Beyond praying for priests, we need to encourage them to be faithful and caring in their ministry.  As in the story of Fr. Gilligan, God will treat them kindly.

Friday, September 4, 2020

 Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 4:1-5; Luke 5:33-39)

In today’s first reading St. Paul calls himself and other apostles “stewards of the mysteries of God.”  The sacraments, especially in Paul’s time Baptism and Eucharist, are considered “mysteries.” The word “mystery” refers to both God’s incomprehensibility and the way God incorporates his people into Himself.  The apostles can be considered stewards in as much as they preach about God and administer the sacraments.

Recently a case of an unfaithful administering of the sacraments was reported.  After watching a video made of his baptism, a young man who had supposedly been ordained to the priesthood concluded that he was never validly baptized.  The deacon, who performed the rite, said, “We baptize you in the name of the Father…”, instead of, “I baptize you …”  The difference of words does matter, not just because the latter goes back to ancient times but because it indicates that Jesus, through the minister, is the one baptizing.  The man had to be baptized, confirmed and given Holy Communion, all for the first time.  Then, after a week’s retreat, he was validly ordained.

Paul talks about the need for a steward of the mystery to be trustworthy.  The steward must faithfully carry out his responsibilities.  We might say something similar for all Catholic Christians.  We should learn the teachings of the Church and faithfully hand them on.  It is not for us to tell others of our opinions of birth control or the Virgin birth, at least as much as our opinions conflict with Church teaching.  God has sent us bishops, the apostles’ successors, to guide us to Himself. They form Church teachings from the tradition that has been handed down to them.  Sometimes, regrettably, they fail to fulfill all their responsibilities.  Nevertheless, they are signs of God’s love for us as are their teachings. 

Friday, September 3, 2010

Saint Gregory the Great, pope and doctor of the Church

(I Corinthians 4:1-5; Luke 5:33-39)

The Harvard economist Joseph Schumpeter once observed that one servant is worth a thousand gadgets. Devices like a GPS, I-Phone, and microwave oven may enhance convenience and satisfaction, but can they ever replace a loyal, competent servant? In the reading from I Corinthians today, Paul shares some insights into the Lord’s service.

The “us” to whom Paul refers as Christ’s servants is not meant to be all Christians, but those like himself who minister to the community. In Paul’s mind ministers directly serve Christ, not the people. This means that they take orders from the Lord and not from the faithful among whom they work. Of course, by not subjecting oneself to human authority, the minister risks becoming arrogant and autocratic. Paul, however, finds a safeguard in the criterion of trustworthiness. A true servant of Christ will prove himself or herself faultless in conduct, including humility.

Today the Church celebrates one of her most distinguished servants, Pope Gregory I. He worked tirelessly at the end of the sixth and beginning of the seventh centuries to support the plague-ridden Italian people, to improve relations between the eastern and western churches, and to promote missionary activity. He was distinctly aware of serving the People of God as he coined the term by which popes still identify themselves, “the servant of the servants of the Lord.” The church has honored him by calling him “Pope St. Gregory the Great.”

Homilette for Friday, September 5, 2008

Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 4:1-5)

The Harvard economist Joseph Schumpeter once observed that one servant is worth a thousand gadgets. Blackberries, I-Pods, and electric massagers may enhance satisfaction, but they hardly replace a loyal, competent servant. In the reading from I Corinthians today, Paul shares some insights into the Lord’s service.

The “us” to whom Paul refers as Christ’s servants is not meant to be all Christians, but those like himself who minister to the community. In Paul’s mind ministers directly serve Christ, not the people. This means that they take orders from the Lord and not from the faithful among whom they work. Of course, by not subjecting himself or herself to human authority, the minister risks becoming arrogant and autocratic. Paul, however, finds a safeguard in the criterion of trustworthiness. A true servant of Christ will prove himself or herself faultless in conduct and reliable in the execution of duty.

When servants of Christ fail the test – be it through extramarital sex, misappropriation of funds, or child abuse -- they give scandal to church members and, indeed, the world. They also will incur a stricter judgment than others from Christ when he comes in glory. In the passage today Paul seems to imply (but he can hardly mean) that the faithful are to look the other way when they see serious wrong-doing by their ministers. However, he certainly does intend that church members refrain from groundless criticism regarding Christ's servants.