Sunday Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons - 5 November 2017

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

'The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.' (Mt 23:12)

I have to hang my head in shame, the passage from Matthew's Gospel today is a real wake up call for all involved in ministry in the Church of Christ no matter who we might be. It is also a haunting Gospel, for Jesus says unequivocally 'beware' of those people in charge of communities, involved in religious leadership, they teach and preach what they don't practise, they put incredibly hard burdens and demands on people , watch out for them, even challenge and avoid them.

It has given me great heart, as a priest struggling with the multiplicity of challenges and new demands that our society brings , that the words and actions of Pope Francis has been a breath of fresh air. I can resonate with his openness to the Spirit at work in the pastoral setting of life, and his encouragement to know and understand people. I don't find his words ambiguous nor I suspect does anybody who has wrestles with the pastoral complexities of people's lives!

To be given a blessing to 'lift' heavy burdens from the backs of the faithful is a gift of the Spirit. How many of us involved in the sacramental ministry of reconciliation understand how our own prejudices and views are challenged by the heartbroken requests for help by deeply faithful Christians struggling with what somebody has 'told them' is the Church Law, It is a grace for us to be able to lift them up and set them free from false imprisonment. That sacrament is a real tool of humility for me, it opens a raw wound in my life, in my spiritual journey because I see how far short I fall in my priestly calling, yet as I speak those loving words from of absolution from God, I am aware how much more loving, forgiving the living God is than any human being can ever be.

Too often in religious papers and journals there are attacks and negative writings about the Pope, which one would never have had about John Paul II or Benedict XVI. I read them and wonder where the critics are coming from? At the heart of our journey is Christ who came to heal, forgive and lift up the lost and fallen and does that through us. I feel that people are tired of words and debates. We have just commemorated Luther and the Reformation, it has its positive side but it was also 500 years of acrimonious debate and division between our Christian family, it was words that divided us!

In our world over-filled by peoples' endless points of view, the media 's incessant discussion of everything, the chattering classes constant discussions and opinions, it is important that the Word calls us to fill the void with loving action! Our witness is that of the people of God striving to be together true strength is hearing the Word and living our lives by self-giving. Where charity and love are, God is there let us not to be divided in Christ. Actions do often speak louder than words!

Prayer : Ubi Caritas et Amor ibi Deus Est

Where charity and love are, God is there.
Christ's love has gathered us into one.
Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.

Let us fear, and let us love the living God.
And may we love each other with a sincere heart.
Where charity and love are, God is there.

As we are gathered into one body,
Beware, lest we be divided in mind.
Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease,
And may Christ our God be in our midst.
Where charity and love are, God is there.

And may we with the saints also,
See Thy face in glory, O Christ our God:
The joy that is immense and good,
Unto the ages through infinite ages. Amen.

Fr Robin is an Eastern Rite Catholic Chaplain for Melkites in the UK. He is also an Ecumenical Canon of Christ Church, Oxford