I’VE said many times in my homilies that our Christian spirituality or piety is not just about receiving grace but also about sharing grace. It’s not just about the Church dispensing the Sacraments, it’s about encountering Christ in the Sacraments so that we may be transformed according to the values of the Gospel and become like Jesus.
Many of the great contradictories or scandals of our faith are the actions or lives of those in leadership positions who were educated in the Catholic schools and universities, which do not conform to the spirit of the Gospel. Their corrupt, greedy, abusive, and apathetic ways bring shame to our Christian faith.
It’s hard to understand this irony, but Pope Francis explained it by saying that in some of our leaders, their God-given human freedom chooses to do wrongful acts. Moreover, the attraction of money and power in any society is very strong that it is easy for many people to fall into the trap of materialistic, immoral and unjust life.
Some of our leaders are practicing their faith, and yes, are supporting the Church by giving tithes or donating huge amount of money to build a church. We see them on Sundays attending Mass or being sponsors at baptisms or weddings. However, their secret lives show tremendous incongruence to the teachings of Christ especially on compassion and justice.
There is a lack of authentic Christian leadership in our world. Nowadays, leadership is more than the ability to have a vision and to allow others embrace that vision. It’s about living or practicing that vision of love, justice, and peace in one’s personal life. Authenticity is what many people, particularly young people, are clamoring and looking for. A single-hearted devotion to care for people in need and a witnessing of the truth of the Gospel in one’s life inspire people to believe in God and be part of a Christian community.
In the Gospel there is a story about a Pharisee who was praying in the temple next to a tax collector. In prayer he addressed God in this way, “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.” Being an expert of the Mosaic Law he knew more than others, yet his action did not show any mercy, love or any interest on the tax collector who humbly and honestly prayed to God in the temple.
Jesus addressed the Pharisee’s attitude by saying that “much more will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” (Lk: 39:48)
As faithful members of a church or citizens of a country, we expect more from leaders who have been entrusted with authority and responsibility to be good stewards. Fundamentally, we expect them to be fine examples of true service and righteousness.
During this season of Advent, let us pray for all leaders that they may be accountable to us for honest, just, and efficient leading of our churches, communities, and governments.
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Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas attended St. John Seminary in Camarillo, California and earned his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. For twenty years, he has been in the parish ministry of large multi-cultural communities. Since 2002, he has been the pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles. Please email Fr. Rodel at [email protected].
