Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutations ‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:1-12)
In today’s Gospel, Jesus warns us about shepherds who have become too prideful and worldly, putting their status above love of God. He tells us that we should respect their office but be wary of the abuse of that office as well as their hypocrisies. This is an important message for all times and in all places.
Although God created His Church on earth, it was left in the care of man, who is sinful. While we rely on our shepherds for guidance, we have only one Father and Master who guides us above all others. Clergy and laity alike follow the same Master and so are brothers, all serving one another, with none held above the other. While our shepherds are called to guide us in the faith, we must remember that they are also human and prone to human frailties and sin. Our eyes must remain steadfastly on God. We are not called to imitate man, but instead to imitate Christ. Our shepherds can teach us how to imitate our Master, but the way in which they personally practice this task can fall short, just as all of humanity falls short in its quest to follow Christ’s example.
For the laity, this is an especially important lesson as we look to our priests for guidance. We should be mindful of their human frailties and be sure to observe what they tell us but not necessarily follow their every example. We should seek out those priests who are pious and humble and who put God above all else. We should be wary of those who are prideful of their status and who put their comforts and interests above the interests of their Master. We should support good shepherds and remember that our eyes should remain on Christ, first and foremost. Perhaps most importantly, we should pray for all priests that they may humbly follow Christ and serve humanity according to God’s will.
Copyright 2022 Jessica Tucker
Thanks, Jessica, it's good to keep priests in our prayers. Your great reflection leads me to want to discuss something deeper about understanding the Church and the priesthood both common and ministerial.
In your reflection you write, "Although God created His Church on earth, it was left in the care of man, who is sinful."
Typically, the Church as understood as an earthly institution sees priests as set aside from the laity. Of course, biblically set aside for service, but historically the development of the priesthood during the Patristic and Scholastic periods took on the models of the hierarchical power structures of the middle ages.
But you mention, "While we rely on our shepherds for guidance, we have only one Father and Master who guides us above all others. Clergy and laity alike follow the same Master and so are brothers, all serving one another, with none held above the other."
Your understanding here is the Church as understood as the Body of Christ with ultimately Christ as its head. The Body of Christ, aside from the institution, can differ from the earthly understanding as it takes on a mystical understanding of the Church, ultimately incorporating those outside (and inside) of the institution itself who are baptized Christians (sacramentally a sign), proclaim Christ, and serve humanity (Mt. 25). In fact, it is a great understanding of the baptized serving in the common priesthood.
Nonetheless, there is a recognition of the supernatural along with the mystical approach of understanding the Church as communion with one another, for which our priests are set aside by their consecration-- their soul imprinted and marked--they become alter Christus, for the means to provide the faithful as servants sacramental grace, visible signs of invisible grace. We cannot forget this distinction, it is a supernatural call from God, a daunting call by God; yes, so let us pray for them. We pray they can cultivate the virtue of humility to model our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ. And we pray that we can all model our Lord.