Voice of The Suffering Servant
Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from April 13, 2008
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Ps 23:1
There has been a great scramble for tickets for the Pope's Mass in Washington. A parishioner has offered me tickets for the welcome at the White House. I assumed it was an intimate gathering of about 50 VIPs. In fact, I'll be part of a group of about ten thousand, more than for Queen Elizabeth. The press has done lengthy analyses' of our pope. Great emphasis has been given to his previous role as head of the Congregation for the Faith, where he was pictured as the Enforcer. He appeared to be the watchdog for faith and morals.
However, Pope Benedict has shown a different face as chief shepherd. In his role as pope, his first pastoral letters have focused on love and hope. He has also emphasized the values of charity and justice. Let us hope and pray that his visit to the USA will be a source of renewal in faith and love for all Catholics and every American.
The heated presidential campaign has also raised questions about the criteria required for the exercise of power.
The scriptures today provide an excellent context for a reflection on authority in the secular and religious spheres.
The criterion for spiritual leadership is suffering. Our great leaders are not those who can inflict the greatest suffering on others, but those who can endure. One may think of Nelson Mandela. His authentic and revolutionary leadership in South Africa was rooted in his years of imprisonment. From suffering comes wisdom.
"Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." Acts 2:14a "When he suffered, he did not threaten." 1 Peter 2:23, "By his wounds you have been healed." Jesus presented himself as the servant-leader, the suffering servant of Yahweh. In fact Servant was his favorite title. Remember how he wore the servant's apron at the Last Supper.
The shepherd theme carries the same meaning. It may appear that the Gospel mixes metaphors calling Jesus the shepherd and the gate to the sheepfold. An explanation I have heard comes from sheepfarmimg. At night the shepherd pens the sheep in a fold with an open gate. In the evening the shepherd stretches himself across the entrance. He becomes the gate that wild animals must cross if they are to raid the flock. This explains the text, "I lay down my life, and take it up again." In vulnerability is the preservation of life.
Out of pain and hurt come an authentic voice that is heard.. They recognize his voice.
As Catholics we get confused about leadership. Some question their allegiance to the Church when they come across a priest, a pastor, and especially a bishop they do not appreciate. It is clear that the sexual abuse problem has seriously damaged the church's credibility. Not only the abuse of children but moreover the attempts to cover up responsibility have broken trust. It is clear that Pope Benedict's visit is an attempt to restore that trust through a call to accountability and reconciliation.
However, we need to remember that even for us Catholics, our leader is Christ. All other leaders, even the Pope, only point toward the Master. We recall the words of John the Baptist, "I am not worthy to wear his sandal strap."
I had an associate one time from Pennsylvania who liked to offer a final dismissal that aggravated Redskin fans, "Remember Jesus is Lord and Pittsburgh is number one!"
May Benedict's visit serve only to reestablish the Lordship of Jesus who is ultimately our supreme shepherd. May each of us from Pope to newly baptized seek to follow the voice of the shepherds. May we follow his path of suffering servanthood, so that through us others may hear an authentic voice.
