One of the main reasons why today’s religious and political leaders lack credibility among the people they exercise leadership over is that they do not walk the talk. There is considerable inconsistency in what they have professed and what they practice. Jesus wants us today to be leaders with credibility, leaders who are sensitive and committed to the welfare of the people. Unlike the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law whose teachings are valid but their actions are unacceptable, we are called to bear witness to our faith with an irreproachable life. This life of witnessing is summarised in the liturgy of the ordination of priests and deacons. ‘Receive the Gospel of Christ whose child you now are. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.
This is a very powerful reflection and it does raise many questions.
The two groups mentioned – religious and political leaders are two groups who we understand are telling us what to do, how things are and how to improve.
When we speak of the religious leaders? Well we have taken a bit of a battering over the last few years and now with the release of the recommendations from the Royal Commission there is much to be done.
Reconciliation, followed by support for victims and families. Once this can be seen to be genuine and sincere we can put in place the process that these things will never happen again.
Anyone who carries the title of a religious or church leader has to work even harder to regain the respect and support of the general public.
We tend to target political leaders because they appear to not do what they say. They can promise the world but it never happens, they will avoid answering a question, they can criticize another party but be guilty themselves.
Generally, one single comment would be they are not trustworthy in what they offer to their people.
Jesus wants us to be credible in the way we go about living our lives.
Someone who can be trusted, a reliable source.
We can all preach or talk about the gospel, in other words what Jesus wants us to do. But it is how we go about it?
I am reflecting and sharing my thoughts on the gospel everyday with parishioners.
I would hope that parishioners would know that what I am saying is what ‘we’ all need to aspire to, not me telling them what they have to do – as if I have reached this goal and it doesn’t apply to me – a modern day Pharisee!
I would hope I am only reminding them of the message that we battle with each day of our lives – to be better people.
I think there is a link between what this reflections says about credibility and sensitive and committed. People need to be able to trust clergy because they know their clergy to be sensitive to the difficulties they face in the light of our broken humanity. It is a battle to be the best we can, all the time, and that applies to all of us – clergy included.
We need Jesus to give us the direction, we need to talk, and then we help each other to achieve it.
In the past, the clergy were often seen as ‘holier than thou’. And this happened because they were usually the most educated person in the town.
So they were often sought after for advice on all matters political, legal and of course spiritual.
That is not the case today and has not been for quite awhile – the pedestal has been removed.
Today the respect has to be earnt by the clergy.
This allows for better engagement with parishioners and better relationships.
A recent article by Pope Francis where he spoke out against ‘clericalism’ shows that our Pope doesn’t want us to return to the attitudes and ideas of clergy of past days.
Recently to the clergy in Latin America he said remember that they are there to serve the laity, not the other way around.
He said the clergy should focus on encouraging the laity, especially those who work in the public square, but emphasized that “it is not the job of the pastor to tell the lay people what they must do or say”.
The words at Ordination can apply to all of us – Believe what you read, teach (witness) what you believe, and together we will endeavor to practice what we teach for the glory of God.
Fr Michael Morley
Parish Priest
Sacred Heart Tatura
Words 766
