Browsing Reflections

Fr. Jo's Reflection for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr B, October 17th, 2021

It happens among classmates, colleagues, associates, even in families: someone feels she or he is specially gifted and wants to dominate and control others. It grows into a craving for power and authority. If you think that such power-play would be out of place among Jesus’ disciples or in the Church, think again! It was disappointing to hear Jesus’ disciples display this shameful attitude that is common in the corporate world. You can imagine the kind of power tussle that reigned in the early Church when you remember that references were made to Peter as the leader, then suddenly it was James; and when Paul came into the scene, it was nearly impossible to know who was in charge. The most disappointing thing about today’s request by James and John is that it came right after Jesus’ prediction of His passion, showing profound misunderstanding of the person and mission of Jesus. Yet, we cannot judge them too harshly because our situation is worse. 2000 years after hearing this Gospel, we still hear of power tussles in the Vatican and fights over episcopal appointments in some dioceses of the world.

Jesus takes time to educate the apostles and us on the true meaning of authority. When he gave the missionary mandate, he did base it on the statement “all authority in heaven and earth” (Matt 28:18); hence, he did not exclude power and authority from the mission of the Church. Yet, he pushes for a totally different approach to power and authority. In contrast to the worldly view, power and authority are essentially for mission and service, and both mission and service are for community building, sanctification and unification in Christ. The term the Church applies for this sacred service is the Greek word “diakonein.” To emphasize the importance of this sacred service, the Church instituted the permanent diaconate, held by Pete before he passed. Power and authority in the Church are clearly synonymous with service and even servitude. Thus Jesus explains that “whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all (doulos)” (Mark 10:44). The use of the phrase “slave of all” is deliberate and paradoxical. By commanding that his followers voluntarily subordinate themselves as servants and slaves of all, Jesus underlines his ideal of universal service toward others.

In essence, all Church leaders—pope, bishops, priests—are first deacons. It was Pope St. Gregory the Great who, to epitomize this servant role took the title “servus sevorum Dei” (servant of the servants of God), and since after him all popes have retained the title. The point is that the bishop and I are your servants. The degree to which we serve or the intensity of our service demonstrates our love and fidelity to Christ and His Church. If we serve joyfully, our love for God shines forth; if we serve shabbily and grudgingly, we dim the face of God in your midst. If we disrespect you, we do the same to God.

All other faithful followers of Christ are servants in their own rank as fathers, mothers, teachers, lawyers, bricklayers, since they are not precluded from service. They alleviate the sufferings of others with the balm of Christian charity—that is, with their kind hearts, gestures, and material goods. We know many men and women in our parish who support the Church and fellow members with their time, talent, and treasure. For example, two parishioners spend many days in the week to plant flowers around the Church and decorate the altar with flowers; another made the altar drapes and cleans our sacred vessels; the ladies of the guild wash the sacred linens; a parishioner helped us pay the first quarter of our property insurance (that went up). Others will help repair a window, replace a faulty electric wire, serve the sick, set up for Mass, and welcome people as greeters. The opportunities to serve with love are countless. The true servant does not seek praise or the adulation of others because she knows that everlasting reward awaits her in heaven. Thank you all for your service.

Fr. Chukwudi Jo Okonkwo

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