Homily for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Nov. 5, 2023. Gospel of St. Matthew 23:1-12. Theme: A Clear and Ever Present Danger!
Our readings this Sunday put the spotlight on the personal integrity of Church leaders as shepherds of the flock of Christ. And this isn’t a very comfortable topic in our times which have been overwhelmed by public revelations of abuse, corruption and breach of trust by bishops and priests. Perhaps we can find hope in the fact that nothing can obstruct the grace and light of Christ from reaching His people. Nevertheless, the ordained leadership of the Church must honestly reflect on today’s Gospel as a searing examination of conscience.
Pope Francis is often pointing out the great spiritual and moral danger of clericalism. Clericalism is when a man sees himself as "higher" or "better" or "holier" or "privileged" simply because of his ordination. It misleads him into thinking that he should be treated in a differential manner. Clericalism leads to "climbing the ladder" in Church leadership in order to claim its status of power, prestige and position. Clericalism was behind the deceitful behavior of abusive bishops and priests who perceived themselves as being above the rules. It is also what was behind the covering up of crimes in order to preserve the public image of the Church. Clericalism is a clear and ever-present danger to the well-being of the People of God.
Jesus dealt with this issue in today’s Gospel. He criticized the religious leaders of His time for putting forward their own agendas and self-interests at the expense of the people. He exposed their show of religious zeal as a sham and pointed out their pride in wanting to be honored and preferred to others. He condemned their strutting around in public dressed in the finest and fanciest robes of their office for all to see. These leaders were classic examples of ministers who fail to “practice what you preach.” And yet despite all of this…Jesus still upheld their legitimate authority as religious teachers. But He clearly made a distinction between the need for their divinely appointed office and the personal integrity of the ones who held it.
And this distinction makes a lot of sense to me because we do need a Church leadership that carries with it the certainty that God will direct us through it. Jesus did, after all, establish a teaching Church led by official teachers as the gospels clearly attest. We need bishops, priests and deacons who lead us, who assure proper organization and care of the flock. We need those who have studied long and hard and can teach us important things about our Faith. We need those who have been officially commissioned to preach the Gospel and celebrate the Sacraments for us.
At the same time we must realize that the clergy are sin-affected people like all of us. They have to struggle with the same kind of temptations and battle the same sort of desires that we all do. These things do not suddenly disappear when a man is ordained. And quite often if he is placed upon a pedestal by well-meaning people he may feel compelled to live and act in a way that is artificial but expected. This special treatment can even make it harder for him to see and admit his own weaknesses and sins.
So, how should we relate with our ordained clergy? Are we to turn a blind eye to their sins and ignore the lack of true leadership evident in some of their lives? No. not all. But it does remind me of an old saying, attributed to St. Teresa of Avila, which says that “God writes straight with crooked lines”. This means that despite weaknesses and sins, despite even laxity and corruption, God can still achieve His purposes through them. Christ can still teach us His Gospel through them. Grace can still reach us through them. In fairness to us it really cannot be otherwise because without human leadership how are we to receive the Word of God, offer liturgical worship and receive the blessings of the Sacraments?
So, what we need to do is follow the wisdom and directives found in today’s Gospel. This means that as long as what they preach is in accordance with the Faith, listen to the clergy because the Holy Spirit has sent them out as messengers of the Gospel. But don’t be shy or afraid to point out corruption or dereliction of duty when you see it. Quite often people grumble and complain but nothing ever changes because they refuse to speak up out of a false sense of respect for the clergy. As a baptized Catholic, a member of the Body of Christ, you have a responsibility for the well-being of the Church. Refuse to treat clergy differently than you would treat any other human being. And above all pray daily for all bishops, priests and deacons that having preached salvation to others they may not lose it for themselves.
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