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Writer's pictureImmersed in Christ

Wherever Two or Three are Gathered in My Name

by Fr. David M. Knight



Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Twenty-Seventh Week of the Year

Lectionary 462

Gal 1:13-24/Lk 10:38-42

 

Galatians 1:13-24: Paul was a consistent man. When he believed Christians were a threat to God’s People, he “went to extremes in persecuting the church of God and tried to destroy it.” And when he knew that God “chose to reveal his Son to me that I might spread among the Gentiles the good news concerning him,” he did it. “Immediately, without seeking human advisors or even going to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before me.”

 

This seems strange to us, because we are conditioned by centuries of top-down government in the Church, to think that no one can do any kind of religious ministry without first getting “ecclesiastical approval” from a pastor or bishop. This mentality crept in gradually, as an innovation contrary to early Church doctrine and practice, until we inherited it as full-blown clericalism. Cardinal Avery Dulles defined this as:

 

an attitude that views the clergy, especially the higher clergy, as the source of all power and initiative... All power is conceived as descending from the pope through the bishops and priests.... Clericalism tends to reduce the laity to passivity, and to make their apostolate a mere appendage of the apostolate of the hierarchy.... (See 25th Sunday above and Vatican II’s Constitution on the Church, paragraph 12.)

 

Paul says that “after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas [Peter] and remained with him for fifteen days.” He saw the need to be united with the original witnesses of Christ’s life and resurrection. But he did not wait on their approval before beginning the mission God had given him. Neither should we.

 

We were all consecrated, anointed and sent by God at Baptism to continue the triple mission of Jesus as Prophet, Priest and King. This is our mission from God. We don’t need anyone’s permission to fulfill it. We would need permission not to—and no one is empowered to give that permission.

 

If we claim official approval, of course we have to seek it. But there is no reason to do that unless we or others have doubts about our orthodoxy. Catholics are just as free as Protestants to preach, teach Scripture, organize and conduct retreats, or form prayer groups in their homes. Using church property might make them look official, so the pastor would need reason to trust before he allowed it. But the Church doesn’t need a church in order to come together. Jesus said, “Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” If all Catholics would assume their responsibility as responsible “stewards of God’s mysteries,” the faith of the world would revive. (1Corinthians 4:1; 1Peter 4:10; Matthew 18:20.)

 

Luke 10:38-42: The “one thing necessary” is union with Christ, both in prayer and in work.

 

Initiative:  Do you believe you are “sent”? If not, seek spiritual direction.



Reflections brought to you by the Immersed in Christ Ministry




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