The story is told about a despondent man who complained to his mother: “I’ve stopped going to the church for two reasons: I don’t like the people and the people don’t like me.”
The mother gazed at him and consoling him by saying: “My son you should go back to church for two reasons: you’re already fifty five years old and you are their parish priest.”
When the Lord started His ministry, He called a core group: Peter and Andrew, James and John and others to become henceforth, ‘fishers of men’ (Matt 4:12-23). These followers, who had been called as apostles, were to continue His work of salvation after he had ascended to heaven whether the people would like them or not, much like the dejected parish priest in the above story.
But, why Jesus calls these fishermen? According to William Barclay, the famous Bible commentator, in his commentary about this gospel passage of St. Matthew had said that a good fisherman possesses the very qualities that Jesus wants when he calls the four fishermen in the gospel to become fishers of men.
First, a fisherman has patience. He learns to wait patiently until the fish will take the bait. If he is restless and quick to move, he will never make a fisherman. The good fisher of men must have patience. It is but rarely in preaching or in teaching that will seek quick results. We must learn to wait.
Second, a fisherman has perseverance. A fisherman learns not to be discouraged but always to try again. The good teacher and preacher must not be discouraged when nothing seems to happen. He must be always ready to try again.
Third, a fisherman has courage. As the old Greek said when he prayed to gods for protection: “My boat is so small and the sea is so large.” A fisherman is ready to risk and to face the fury of the sea and of the gale. The good preacher and teacher must be well aware that there is always a danger in telling man the truth. The man who tells the truth more often than not takes his reputation and his life in his hands.
Fourth, a fisherman has an eye for the right moment. The wise fisherman knows well that there are times when it is hopeless to fish. He knows when to cast and when not to cast. The good teacher and preacher choose his moment. There are times when men will welcome the truth. There are times when truth will move them and times when the truth will harden them in their opposition to the truth. The wise preacher knows that there is a time to speak and a time to be silent.
Fifth, a fisherman knows how to fit the bait to the fish. One fish will rise to one bait and another to another. The wise preacher and teacher know that the same approach will not win all men. He may even have to know and recognize his own limitations. He may have to discover that there are certain spheres in which he himself can work and others in which he cannot.
Lastly, the wise fisherman must keep himself out of sight. If he obtrudes his own presence, even his own shadow, the fish will very certainly not bite. The wise preacher and teacher will always seek to present men not with himself but with Jesus Christ. His aim is to fix man’s eyes, not on himself but on the figure beyond.
Nowadays, we hear criticisms of church leaders. Parishioners complain about pastors who are grouchy, unapproachable, materialistic and ultra-conservative.
I read this literary piece entitled: A PRIEST IS ALWAYS WRONG, which runs this way:
If he waits for people, he has never been punctual
If he starts the Mass on time, they say his watch is wrong
If he owns a car, people say he is luxurious
If he does not have one, they say he is always late
If he asks for donation, people say he is a moneymaker
If he does not ask, they say he is proud and lazy
If he is seen with women, people say he is a playboy
If he goes with men, they say he is a sissy
If he preaches too long, people say they get bored
If his homily is too short, they say he is unprepared
If he visits houses, people say he is always out
If he stays in the convent, they say he has no time for them
If he is too young, they say he has no experience
If he is too old, they say he should retire
But when a priest dies, nobody takes his place.
Perhaps what the people should bear in mind is that being God’s minister does not by itself abolish the minister’s humanity and there are many: pride, ambition, greed and even sensuality which can blind a priest or bishop as they blind other men. But the Lord who uses Peter as the building block of His church – Peter, who thrice denied Him, can use imperfect men too. Notwithstanding, spiritual leaders have the obligation by virtue of their high, divine calling, to constantly striver to overcome their human frailties. Undesirable qualities in a bishop or a priest can and do turn off people from religion.
Some others are expressing disillusionment because they feel that the church is not helping them. Others say that the church is out of touch of reality and people’s hardships. We certainly have the right to criticize the Church. However, if we must complain, we must remember whom we are complaining about. The truth of the matter is that we are complaining about ourselves for the simple reason that we are the church. Looking at the church apart from ourselves would be like complaining about an infected finger as if it were not part of us.
But on the other hand, we, as ministers of God, in spite of our frailties we may strive very hard to live our priestly vocation and win all men and women back to God. The person of Christ Jesus is acting in and through us.
The church’s success will largely depend on what we make her as church leaders and lay members. The question is are we doing our part or do we know our part in the church?