By Abhishek Prasad –
“We do not want… a church that will move with the world. We want a Church that will move the world.” G K. Chesterton
Mathew Kelly in his book “Rediscover Catholicism” beautifully explains that, having spent hundreds of hours in reflecting on where we stand in our journey as Church. He is definitive in saying that every catholic would agree that we have forgotten our story. Today we need witnesses not just our Theo-philosophical teaching on faith and morals but we need real witnesses. People are flooded with information and they are dispassionate about the boring homilies and preachy attitude. Each one of us need to interpret our own story and that is what ultimately defines Catholicism. Catholicism is more than a handful of priests who do not know what it means to be a priest.
There are 1.2 billion Catholics in the world. But the question is how many of them practice their faith realistically. Pope Francis when he declared the year of Consecrated Life – he said- “Wake up the world”. It is an open invitation as well as a universal call to missionary discipleship. Not just, we wake up the world but we, ourselves need to be diligent – or else we will prove the story of a blind leading the other blind and chances are high that both will fall into the pit and so, do we, if we do not. Mathew Kelly puts it this way, ‘if you and I are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem’.
In the words of Pope Francis, “we may ask ourselves: am I anxious for God, anxious to proclaim him, to make him known? On the other hand, do I allow that the spiritual worldliness to attract me which impels people to do everything for love of themselves? We priests/consecrated people think of the personal interests of functionality of our works, of our careers. Well, we can think of so many things… have I, so to speak, made myself ‘comfortable’ in my Christian life, in my priestly life, in my religious life, and so in my community life? In my parish, dioceses? Alternatively, do I retain the forces of restlessness for God, for his Word that makes me “step out” of myself towards others?
I think, the priests have become too comfortably part of the modern secular culture, and this comfort has resulted in dangerous complacency toward the life giving words of the Gospel. It is much easier to preach others but we do not allow ourselves the core of the gospel message to transform our lives. We cannot give to others what we ourselves do not possess. C. S Lewis says, “To walk out of his will is to walk into nowhere.” Just think for a moment, “when we pray ‘Our Father’ – “Thy’ will be done”- I am not sure whether it is Christ’s ‘will’ or his/her own ‘will’ –(good question to ask ). The freedom to love, freedom to have Christ is the priceless treasure! It all comes from a life that is centred around prayer.
Pope Francis addressing the priests he said ‘faithful should never experience confessional as torture chamber because it is a place of loving acceptance and forgiveness- a place of re-birth and renewal.’ It is painful to know that only an insignificant number Catholics make use of sacrament of reconciliation. The vast majority of youth and younger generations are highly sceptical about it. Whom to blame? This is where the presence of priests plays a profound role in building heaven upon the earth.
Catholics cannot but do any mistakes for fear of what others would think, if one messes up/ screws up his/her life, let us be clear here- ‘I am not advocating the ‘theory of propensity for sin’- all I want to say is “law” may prevent person from sinning but it can never prevent an individual from “wanting/desire to sin” if the law and order prevents an individual from wanting to sin then the enormity of crimes in the society will cease to exist. Are we greater than Jesus himself? Then who are we to pass a verdict on our neighbours! Empty mind is a devils workshop, probably, it is, ‘Satan’ who disguises himself – wolf in the sheep’s clothing!
Recently I was watching one of the YouTube videos from ‘Vatican reports’ addressing the priests of his diocese Pope said, “it really saddens me when I see a priest/religious going by Mercedes Benz and the like. He also sarcastically remarked that ‘how many of you start and end your day with prayer or T.V? At this point of time we need to ask, “Is Jesus my all, or not at all?’
An invisibility of courageous and authentic leadership and spiritual animation is a tragedy in the modern world particularly among priests. The concept of morale is low and the number of Catholics parting from the Church is far greater than ever before. Now you may wonder what is the root cause of all these problems . I would bluntly attribute majority of the contributing proportional share to some “Priests”- apologies for those who might find it hard to accept it but heartbreakingly it is the saddest reality with no option to reject it. We need to learn lessons for ourselves.
I must recap Fr. Chesara’s reference to his recent article of a woman who was banned to receive communion! To support that argument I would say, – “Sabbath is made for man not man for Sabbath’ we tend to justify legalism to Christ vision forgetting that “Christ came that we may have life, life in its fullness” (Jn 10:10). For you and me the measuring scale for justification is punishment and revenge but for Christ it is “Compassion and mercy” that is why he said to the woman caught in adultery –’neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more’ mercy transcends above all that we can think of and imagine but his mercy is beyond human predicaments. (Eph. 3:20). It is not to blame the priests but to be in touch with the reality of what has been hidden for years. We need to remind ourselves that we are not as St. Paul says ‘children of darkness rather children of light.
The fact that a multiple small groups of troubled priests tarnish the entire priesthood is a tragedy. We need to stop the blame game and be bold enough to accept and admit mistakes and take responsibility for one’s own actions. ‘He who does not ask for forgiveness does not know what forgiveness is and if we fail to forgive then we are no good to love because love is the bed rock of Christianity.’ Can you imagine priests who find it hard to forgive, love and care for their own sheep? It is obviously noteworthy that some priests have forgotten how to smile if this is the case then bringing simile on the face of people of God is beyond question. The heart is filled with resentment, retaliation and they try their best to prove themselves and change the traditional belief system from- “forgiving an enemy to an atrocious principle of “an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth’ – The Hammurabi code.
In my own experience have seen and witnessed horrific display of their ‘power’ and ‘authority’- I really wonder that how come good number of priest do not understand the underlying principle of Jesus’ invitation to follow him- “If any want to follow – let him/her deny himself/herself take up the cross and follow me” but if I am correct with my biblical knowledge Christ never said- place your cross on someone else’s shoulder and follow me! In addition to this, we must remember that priests are not called to be political leaders, commanders of the military army- but mind you “Shepherds- after Christ’s own heart.”
In my personal prayer, I always wrestle with God asking him to give me the grace of “humility’- mother of all virtues. It does not mean I am a saint but – accepting that I am a sinner is the first step towards healing. As we read in Psalm 91- “the broken and contrite heart the Lord does not reject” Where do we stand at this point? It is a sad reality, many of the religious and priests are completely immersed in their own battle for name, fame, power and position. This clearly reveals with brilliant clarity, that deep longing to be loved and desperate to meet the unmet psychological needs which might have been absent in their childhood. These are all the symptoms of inadequate personal growth. Defence mechanism, blame –game, double standard behaviour, and idiosyncrasy become their ‘normal pattern of behaviour’. Question is – Do I need healing? Do I learn from past mistakes? What I have personally witnessed among many priests is- “Pride- egoism”, the “I” trouble. We can heal a person who is psychologically ill but not the one who ‘pretends ‘to be ill. Pride goes before destruction! Many preach and their focus is themselves not Christ. If everyone replaces themselves for Christ’ then Christ’s infinite sacrificial death on the cross becomes an act of foolishness! Cross-becomes the symbol of defeat not of victory over death and sin.
It is time to re-define and re-affirm ourselves who do I preach/proclaim is it about “Christ” or “Me’? If not now then never! It is high time now to set things right. Nevertheless, I am shattered with the present happenings and not just in our own parishes but across the globe, that the world appears to have lost of its sense of peace, safety and security. A war within a war! A problem with a problem! A question within a question!!! Selfishness (darkness) seems to have overshadowed the entire situation. Henceforth, many have forgotten how to smile. I personally have had experiences of deep woundedness and rejection, but hats off to Australian Church, which believes, in human dignity and boldly proclaims the deep sense of human respect and credibility. I am sure, its takes great deal of courage to do it. It does so.
I must recall, recently, I had an opportunity to meet with, then, Apostolic Nuncio to Australia Paul Gallagher now the Vatican Secretary of State- can you believe, he was as humble as a child who came up to every single person gathered smilingly, talking with everyone, even the Archbishop of Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, Archbishop Christopher Prowse, Archbishop of Canberra- Goulburn, I was infinitely humbled for their humility.
Conversely, in India, for instance, to meet one’s own parish priest we have to wait indefinitely most of the time, perhaps, no hope and even worse –‘hoping against hope’ trying our luck to meet. About meeting with bishops needless to say, you can imagine. It is indescribable in Indian context to see someone in a high moral and spiritual position to go down to that level of humility. I remember the words of St. John Paul- II from the movie- “Karol -A man who became pope” the definition of a Priest- “A MAN FOR OTHERS! This is how a priest should be!
What holds me in surprise is that – our Churches in India – needs a ‘wakeup’ call- ‘wakeup’ from our slumber and take responsibility to renew every parish activity- by encouraging people to take part in the main stream. I think, it has to start from here (Micro-level). ‘One who is afraid to stumble and fall will never learn how to walk.’ Henri Nouwen puts it, ‘our hearts become the place where the tears of God and the tears of God’s Children can merge and become tears of hope” (Love in a Fearful Land, 1986).
What is important is to remain more deeply lined, perhaps, but still dynamic, still strong, still determined- always wondrously compassionate, until our smile becomes a benediction. I am personally so impressed by the way some of the priests are and the way they exercise their ministry of Priesthood is so amazing! We are not to do away with it saying- oh! All priests are to a bunch of “good for nothing category” but are a great source of inspiration and builders of the church(Spiritual and material), of course, I do agree but the fact is, for a priest whether on earth or in heaven, whether in Australia, London, China, America or Paris–ONE NEEDS TO BE HUMBLE JUST LIKE CHRIST WAS. The church in must shimmer and gleam with ‘humility’ despite it unconscious immersion into secularism and materialistic society.
Once of the journalists asked Blessed Mother Teresa, “Mother! Now that you are so prominent around the world and everyone knows you and your work… “Do you think it is a great success? To which she replied, ‘we are called not to be successful but we are called to be faithful.’ It is in giving that we receive, it is in loving that we are loved and in forgiving, we are forgiven. Let us be faithful to our calling… call to radial discipleship. Let us ‘wake up the world’ lest we become one in the tomb!
Abhishek Prasad holds a Ph.D in Psychology – Doctoral Research Scholar, Department of Psychology, Periyar University at Salem in Tamil Nadu.
Email: [email protected]