Authority is not always Truth
by Fr. David M. Knight
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Twenty-Seventh Week of the Year
Saint Denis, Bishop, and Companions, Martyrs; Saint John Leonardi, Priest
Lectionary 463
Gal 2:1-2, 7-14/Lk 11:1-4
Galatians 2:1-14: After fourteen more years of ministry, Paul was “prompted by a revelation” to go to Jerusalem again for a “private conference with the leaders,” James, Peter and John. This may have been because of the arch-conservatives from the “Pharisee party” who “had come down from Judea and were instructing the brothers, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.’” Because of the dissension, the community decided that “Paul, Barnabas, and some others should go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders.” The Christian way to solve problems is through open discussion in community. (See Galatians 1:7 for Monday, and Acts 15. Today the dissenters appear to be almost always arch- conservatives. There is a saying in the Vatican: “The right writes.” They send private reports to Rome, and the accused are judged without being allowed to see what was said against them. Google “Bishop William Morris” and see Fr. Frank Brennan’s article in The Australian, May 3, 2011, on his removal; available through commonwealmagazine.org/Blog Archive “Bishop Morris denied natural justice.” May 18,2011.)
Frank and open discussions are stifled if authorities—such as the pope, bishops and some pastors—are treated with such deference and protective protocol that disagreement appears to be lèse majesté (defined in Webster’s as “an offense against a ruler’s dignity”). Pastors hesitate to speak truth to their bishop and bishops to the pope. Paul obviously was not of this mindset:
When Kephas [Peter] came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he clearly was wrong. For, until some people came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to draw back and separated himself, because he was afraid of the circumcised. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him.
According to the inspired word of God, the Church was only able to function well because Paul addressed the malfunctioning of the pope. So what excuse do we have for not speaking up?
But if we are not willing to give up secrecy and defend our accusations against the accused, we exclude ourselves from all Christian dialogue and should be held anathema.
Luke 11:1-4: Is it coincidence or Providence that the “calls to battle” we find in the readings from Paul are followed by Gospel readings about giving peace? Yesterday the “one thing necessary” was quiet union with God. Monday it was love. Tomorrow it is compassion. Today Jesus is teaching us to pray. And we have focused all year on the petitions of the Our Father, culminating in total abandonment to one desire: union with Jesus, the Bread of Life, and with others in the “wedding banquet of the Lamb.” The life of God is a life of loving peace.
Initiative: Seek peace as the goal of every action and interaction.
Reflections brought to you by the Immersed in Christ Ministry
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