23rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Philemon 9-10, 12-17
Luke 14:25-33
"If anyone comes to me
without hating his father
and mother, wife and children… cannot be my disciple.”
Today's gospel invites us to meditate on the imperatives of Christian discipleship. All of us are called to be disciples. But the stress of today's gospel focuses not so much on common discipleship but on discipleship as a particular vocation in life. Hopefully, the pointers of today's gospel may us understand and admire our catholic priesthood, and inspire us all the more to love and support our priests.
1. One important distinguishing mark of catholic priesthood is celibacy. In fact, when one talks about catholic priesthood, what immediately comes to mind are thoughts like "catholic priests don’t marry…they have to remain single ..." The issue on celibacy has been subject to much theological discussions. Especially today when "married catholic priests" have become a phenomenon in some quarters of the globe, alternatives for the exercise of catholic ministerial priesthood are slowly emerging from their sides. These are no mere efforts to simply solicit recognition but are genuine manifestations of a sincere desire to be still a part of and in the Lord's vineyard not only despite but even because of their present status. Their experiences as married priests convince them how effective they have even become.
2. But as we try to advance to a more progressive
understanding on catholic celibate priesthood, prudence seems to urge us to
revisit the source of this evangelical teaching. In today's gospel, we hear the
wisdom of the Master: "If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers
and sisters, and even his own life, cannot be my disciple.” And in the last
part: "Everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”
Surely, man's most cherished possession is his family. For such reason, even God himself expects everyone to love his family. Thus, on the first place, the word "hating" must not be taken as if it were the direct opposite of loving. But the evangelist must have used this word in order to stress a strong point about discipleship. Family relations – an any intimate relationship for that matter - must not be a hindrance to effective ministry. Or in a stronger parlance perhaps, we may propose that the jealous God simply does not want any family to stand as his strong competitor in the vineyard. So, while we do not dismiss the consistent claims of how married priests have now been more effective than they ever were, we cannot also deny that family relations prove at times to be a strong barrier for effective ministerial service. I remember a good friend, a married priest of another church, who, perhaps jokingly or what commented: “When I was still single, I never worried about going home late. I could even recall the time when I took my night here at your rectory. Now, I have to hurry home because someone is waiting. Maybe, your church is right not to let your priests marry."
3. The beauty of celibate priesthood lies precisely in the truth that it is a vocation. True, it has become a matter of law in the passage of time. But the over stress of and concern about celibacy as law may create some difficulties even to catholic priests themselves. The sincere dedication to offer one's life for the sake of the kingdom - the spirit that originally inspired the positivation of celibacy into law - may little by little disappear in place of a more rigorous understanding of it in the context of discipline. And this does not give any peace than anxiety. But once we always take celibate priesthood by heart as a matter of a sacred call, priestly ministry will surely be the most cherished possession of a priest just as the family would be to a married person.
Besides, turning away father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters and even oneself, or in a word, to be celibate is not only inspired by this gospel imperative but also by man's basic quest for meaning. In other words, the law of celibacy did not come in a spur of a moment but only after a long and painful yet fruitful historical experience. The cenobitic life of the third century Christians was literally a life of total detachment. They left family and possessions in order to lead a solitary life in the desert, in the mountains, in the caves. There, in the silence of solitude, away from the world, they practiced even the extremest form of asceticism. And what moved them to take this arduous path was their honest desire for repentance, and a strong resolve to follow Christ in a way they thought most intimate and fitting. Of course, St. Basil would later find the seeming weakness of this life when he commented: “If I remain in a complete isolation, whose feet can I wash?” But no doubt cenobitic monasticism has left us a precious legacy in the history of Christian spirituality and discipleship. Even St. Basil himself would retain the spirit of detachment while going out into the world to serve the unwanted and the less fortunate. It was in those poor man's feet which Basil washed that he found the priceless joy and fulfillment as a celibate servant of God.
4. The same spirit must inspire us to understand celibate priesthood today. It is and will always be
a vocation. And as such, it remains a sacred call which is basically an
initiative of God. But as a call needs an authentic response, a true
discernment must accompany man's responsible “yes.” The life he is called to
lead is undoubtedly difficult. He is indeed intending to build a tower
or perhaps engaging in a war against a numerous army. This then demands
prudence and wisdom, honesty and humility, perseverance and sacrifice. But
above all, it also asks for enough love. It is only he who has enough love who
can give enough of himself Of course, we are not saying here that priests are
good and holy, and those who are contemplating to the priestly life must have
such quality of goodness and holiness. Not at all. Priests are not sinless, and
the priesthood does not make them less sinful or much holier than others. We
must not give this false belief that celibate priesthood is a better path to
holiness. That is a plain myth. Priests are human beings like anybody else.
Thus, they are weak and
vulnerable, too. This is precisely why Christ himself would admonish anyone who
wishes to follow him to think twice, thrice many times whether he has enough
finances to finish his tower or enough
strength to conquer the advancing
enemy.
Both priests and laity must have this right attitude. As we take the vocation to the priesthood with gratitude and admiration, we also beg for a kind heart that may enable us to understand, care and love our vocations.
"If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children…cannot be my disciple.”