Bishops and priests must serve their people with simplicity, and Christ-like love and humility
Pope Francis told a gathering of apostolic nuncios, with the same disarming directness with which he paid his hotel bill after his election, that he wanted these key figures to seek out potential bishops who are “close to the people, fathers and brothers” as well as “gentle, patient, and merciful, animated by inner poverty, the freedom of the Lord, and also by outward simplicity and austerity of life.” In addition, potential bishops “should not have the psychology of princes.” The Roman Pontiff went on to tell the nuncios they should avoid “ambitious prelates who want to be promoted from one diocese to a more prestigious one” and reminding them of “the ancient view that bishops ‘are married to a Church’ and should not be ‘in constant search for another.’ ”
The Roman Catholic pope has aimed a blow at a whole hierarchy built on a system with the higher clergy in elevated positions, while “peasant” clergy, and the laity, remain at the very bottom. By looking for pastors who live closely with their people rather than clergy who feel they are entitled to live above them, this pope has taken aim at a hierarchical structure that has made clericalism and all its charms and privileges possible. This call for simplicity chills the very hearts of the purebred clerics who fear that a whole way of life in the Roman Catholic Church may be coming to an end.
Orthodoxy has traditionally avoided clericalism, yet in more recent times this very corruption of priestly service has entered the doors of the Orthodox Church. It has led some clergy to seek out, for personal gain, even the heavy burden of hierarchical service to Christ’s Church. Motivated by their desire for princely honor, their sight is clouded so as to endanger not only their own souls, but the souls of the laity who are in need of humble, fatherly, pastoral care, and who will suffer under their “pastoral” guidance.
This quest for honor has led many clergy to participate in a culture of abuse, where they even turn on one another in their sad attempt at aligning themselves with “officialdom”. The culture of abuse that is encouraged and fomented by refusing to live in adherence to the simplicity and humility of Christ’s example, is not much different than that of the grade school pecking order where the bully builds alliances based on fear.
It is the same culture that chooses to ignore destructive behavior which undermines the message of the Church, and displaces the ministry of healing, replacing it with a worldly culture not unlike that of the fiefdoms of medieval Europe. It is a culture that can only be destroyed by implementing the same reforms that the Pope of Rome is calling for within the Roman Catholic Church.
As the Church founded by Christ, we Orthodox need to return to the basics. Our bishops need to put off all royal pretensions and princely ways, and give themselves over to being loving fathers to their priests and people. Our bishops need to lead their dioceses with biblical standards based on love of their people, and love of Christ, and not rule by fear and tyranny. Priests need to lead their people as loving fathers, and not as local governors appointed by Caesar.
We are living in dangerous times, and the people of God must be given the spiritual tools needed to thrive as society falters, and Christianity itself is under increased attack. The road ahead requires bishops and priests to be more than religious officials, they must be holy men who lead their people as loving, caring, and merciful pastors.
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photo: Father Pimen Shenoda from Holy Cross Coptic Orthodox Church in San Diego, together with lay people from San Diego and Seattle, made a pilgrimage to the monastery on Friday. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
Saturday July 4, 2015 / June 21, 2015
5th Week after Pentecost. Tone three.
Apostles’ (Peter & Paul) Fast. Fish Allowed
St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker (movable holiday on the Saturday closest to June 19th).
Martyr Julian of Tarsus in Cilicia (305).
New Hieromartyr John (1918).
Venerable George (Lavrov) the Confessor, archimandrite of Kaluga (1932)
New Hieromartyrs Alexis, Paul and Nicholas priests (1938).
New Hieromartyr Ionna (1938).
New Martyr Nicetas (1942).
Finding of the relics (1996) of Venerable Maximus the Greek (1556).
Hieromartyr Terence (Tertius), bishop of Iconium (1st c.).
Venerable Julius, presbyter of Novara, and his brother Venerable Julian the Deacon (5th c.).
Martyrs Archil II (744) and Luarsab II (1622), kings of Georgia (Georgia).
New Martyr Nicetas of Nisyros, near Rhodes (1732) (Greek).
Martyr Aphrodisius in Cilicia.
Martyr Julian of Libya (Greek).
Hieromartyr Anthony, Martyrs Anastasius, who was raised from the dead, Celsius and his mother Vasilissa, 20 prison guards and 7 brothers, martyred with St. Julian (Greek).
Venerable Anastasia (Anna) of Serbia, mother of St. Sava (1200) (Serbia).
Martyr Theodore, right-believing prince of Starodub (1330).
St. Cormac of the Sea (590) (Celtic & British).
St. Mewan, abbot of St. Meen.
Scripture Readings
Romans 8:14-21
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
From Suffering to Glory
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Matthew 9:9-13
Matthew the Tax Collector
9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.
10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
I am Catholic, (a convert from Methodism), and I have been thrilled with Pope Francis’ actions which tend toward unity with the Orthodox. I believe there is one Church, and that the Catholic/Orthodox split is a great scandal, and that they are both part of the Church Christ established. I noticed that, during his first days after being chosen as pope, he referred to himself by his proper title, Bishop of Rome; and I have noted with a sense of hope that he has stated that unity, as in full communion, is a priority for him. There is a Byzantine Catholic church in Raleigh, NC, and I go there when I can. However it is two hours away, and my husband does not go with me. If we were in full communion with the Orthodox, I would never attend another Roman liturgy. I love our Church, and I am thankful every day that Christ revealed to me the truth of the sacraments. I pray daily for unity, and I pray for all of our priests. Thank you, Abbot, Tryphon, for answering God’s call to serve Him and His people.