St Paul
In the context of the Roman Catholic Church, and Christianity more broadly, we are living in troubled times, whether it is to do with the truth about the nature and purpose of marriage, the role of women in the church, or as to whether priests (from a Roman Catholic point of view) should or should not be married. And as if that, together with dwindling congregations, were not trouble enough, we have the unresolved scandals in respect of pedophile priests. But there are more subtle tensions also, in the shape of topics that are not necessarily to the forefront in public consciousness. Pope Francis has expressed concern about career bishops, men who have come to see themselves as administrators, rather than as men appointed to care (in a pastoral sense) for priests, as well as the faithful. And the bishops are complaining about the over-arching hand of the Vatican when it comes to dealing with clergy, who, in one respect or another, are seen as dissident. So, in this context, they are calling for more autonomy and the opportunity to address these complex issues themselves, turning to the Vatican only as a last resort. And some priests are complaining about their bishops, and some of the faithful are asking to have a say when it comes to appointing their bishop. So it is against this background that I offer you this thought provoking excerpt from the apostle Paul's letter to Timothy, which I have taken from the Office of Readings for today:
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"You can depend on this; whoever wants to be a bishop aspires to a noble task. A bishop must be irreproachable, married only once, of even temper, self-controlled, modest and hospitable. He should be a good teacher. He must not be addicted to drink. He ought not to be contentious but, rather, gentle, a man of peace. Nor can he be someone who loves money. He must be a good manager of his own household, keeping his children under control without sacrificing his dignity; for if a man does not know how to manage his own house, how can he take care of the Church of God? He should not be a new convert, lest he become conceited and thus incur the punishment once meted out to the devil. He must also be well thought of by those outside the church, to ensure that he does not fall into disgrace and the Devil's trap.
In the same way, deacons must be serious, straightforward, and truthful. They must not overindulge in drink or give in to greed. They must hold fast to the divinely revealed faith with a clear conscience. They should be put on probation first; then, if there is nothing against them, they may serve as deacons. The women, similarly, should be serious, not slanderous gossips. They should be temperate and entirely trustworthy. Deacons may be married but once and must be good managers of their children and their households. Those who serve well as deacons gain a worthy place for themselves and much assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
Although I hope to visit you soon, I am writing you about these matters so that if I should be delayed you will know what kind of conduct befits a a member of God's household, the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of truth. Wonderful, indeed, is the mystery of our faith, as we say in professing it:
"He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated in the Spirit;
Seen by the angels;
preached among the Gentiles,
Believed in throughout the world,
taken up into glory."
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Cormac E McCloskey
