I have been so busy composing music over the past 6 months I have neglected posting any reflections on the Sunday readings. I hope to rectify this beginning to day.
In the readings for this weekend, Isaiah 22:19-23, Matthew 16:13-20, and Romans 11:33-36, the subject of just and wise leadership comes in focus. In the Isaiah reading God is telling Shebna, master of the palace, that he will be deposed because of his corruption, and that Eliakim will be raised in his place. In Matthew’s Gospel, after Peter confesses that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus tells Peter that he will be head of the Church. In his letter to the Romans, Paul tells the community how ludicrous it is for humanity to think that humanity, creatures of God, can in any way give counsel to God, who created them.
These readings about leadership are important during this time of such examples of failed leadership, not only politically but also religiously. By in large, our political and religious leadership are failing us. There was a time when the USCCB were a prophetic group of bishops. Their coverup and/or complicity in the criminal sexual abuse of vulnerable children and adults has completely robbed them of any teaching authority, especially in the areas of human sexuality, the majority of the faithful turning to other sources, equally poor in some cases, for counsel in the area of human sexuality.
Throughout the history of the Catholic Church, the trust and the power entrusted to Peter by Jesus, is not easily transferred from one pope to another. The popes have been a collection of very broken men, and in some cases, Julian II and the Borgia popes, very evil men.
What can be said about the American bishops can also be said about most religious leaders today. The leadership of the evangelical Churches easily turn their heads aside about the crimes being committed among their own leadership and the political leadership of our nation. The religious leadership of all the world religions are largely held suspect today, with many people abandoning the religious faith of their parents to seek elsewhere for spiritual life.
Then we get to the political leadership we have before us today. The trust in the leadership in our executive branch of our government, our judicial branch of government and in our legislative branch in our government has been eroded but the out and out lies told everyday by the president, by many of the senators, and many of our representatives. The Attorney General has attacked the truth in the judiciary. Seemingly, the only place we can put our trust in the Federal government these days are in our Federal judges.
Has it always been this way? Well, the answer is yes. The early Church is not without its faults. In Galatians, Paul accuses Peter of being a spineless, blithering idiot, and calls James the anti-Christ. The Council of Jerusalem was an attempt by the early Church leaders to piece together precariously a largely divided Church. It is obvious that the early Church was not quite the panacea we like to sentimentally think. It was as messy and broken as our current Church. The political leadership, though largely an empirical monarchy was as corrupt as many of the governments today.
So the question that faces us today is simply: “Who can we trust?”
This is why Paul’s words to the Roman community are so important for us today.
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord
or who has been his counselor?
Or who has given the Lord anything
that he may be repaid?
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36)
Given the flawed state of religious and political leadership for the Roman community, Paul wisely counsels them to be careful as to whom they entrust authority. Places in society, power, and prestige are weak indicators of wisdom and leadership. These are merely the trappings of leadership but not true leadership. Whether one be a bishop, a priest, or some other cleric, or a president, senator, representative, or some other government position does not mean they are to be entrusted with power.
So, who can we trust? Paul says very simply, God. For from God and through God and for God are all things.
Jesus tells us in the Gospel that the actions and intent of people speak volumes about who they are. Those who are more about serving others as opposed to being self-serving are people to be trusted. Those who are willing to sacrifice themselves out of love for others, are to be trusted. Those who think about the common good of all people are to be trusted. And, of course, the criteria by which to evaluate people and issues given to us by Jesus (Matthew 25:31-46) is most important. Do they: 1) feed the hungry; 2) give drink to the thirsty; 3) welcome the stranger; 4) clothe the naked; 5) care for those who are sick; and, 6) visit the imprisoned? If their life reflect ministering to others in these six areas, then, they are to be trusted because they are ministering to people as Jesus ministered to people. In doing all these actions it is indicative that they are being counseled by God.
