The priest…

The first Reading of St. Paul to Titus is like an examination of conscience for our priests because St. Paul enumerates the qualities of a good presbyter. What makes a good priest?

He said a good priest must be irreproachable. God’s steward must be blameless. He should not be self-willed or arrogant. Neither must he be drunkard, a violent or greedy person. He must be hospitable and a lover of goodness. Eh must be stable, just, holy and self-controlled.

These are the qualities a Christian community expects of a priest. I know, at this present time, it seems that it is very difficult to live up to this expectation!

If one particular priest falls short from these expectations and fail as a priest, that is definitely his huge responsibility to God. But what must be our response to that failure? What should the response of the Christian community be when it comes in contact with a drunkard priest? a womanizing priest? a priest who is avaricious? a priest who inhospitable? a priest who is uncompassionate and unkind? a priest who is thoughtless? a priest who is inconsiderate? a priest who is unjust?

How should a Christian community react when they see a priest like this?

When we see a minister of God who is so unfaithful to the descriptions and classification given by Paul to Titus, can we ask for the removal of the priest? Can we demonstrate against the priest? Can we gossip about the priest?

The answer is contained in the Gospel. When you come face to face with the scandalous life of a minister of God, your first recourse should be to pray and ask the Lord: “Increase our faith! increase our faith, Lord, despite the unworthiness of our ministers!”

I know that you have not been spared of priests who have hurt you, offended you, or taken you for granted. Perhaps, the priest in your very own parish or congregation is included in the list as far as you are concerned.

When you come face-to-face with a priest like that, it is not for the community to judge, to spread gossip or intrigue. The Christian community should pray: “Lord, touch his heart and bring him back to You. Lord, give us more faith so that despite the limitations of our elders, we may see You.”

Join me in my prayer for our priests as we observe the great Passion of our Lord Jesus this Monday of Holy Week.