Beloved:
I remind you, to stir into flame
the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice
but rather of power and love and self-control.
Scripture scholars tell us that our second reading on this Sunday taken from Second Timothy, was originally an ancient homily given to early episcopoi or Bishops. I love the word for Bishops in the original Greek of the New Testament. It comes from two Greek words, epi and scopos, that literally mean “to watch over.” And, my friends, that is precisely what Bishops are charged to do in their ministry of service to God’s people. They are to lovingly and compassionately watch over the flock entrusted to their care just like the Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
There is a beautiful mosaic in the newly completed St. Callistus Chapel at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove located in the Bishops’ crypt that depicts Jesus as the Good Shepherd guarding his flock from the ravages of the wolf. At first when the design was presented to the design committee for the chapel, it immediately captured our attention for dramatically depicting precisely the role of the Bishop in the midst of God’s people. How appropriate that this beautiful and dramatic image should grace the tombs of those who have selflessly watched over our local Church.
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. I was reminded of this beautiful challenge as I heard the homily last Sunday on YouTube of the Cardinal Archbishop of Washington, D.C., Robert McElroy, as he preached at the annual Mass for the World Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees at St. Matthew’s Cathedral. Like the prophets of old he boldly spoke of the injustice and inhumanity of the present administration’s so-called crack down on undocumented persons:
“What we are facing,” he said, “is a comprehensive campaign to uproot millions of families and hard-working men and women who have come to our country seeking a better life and contributing to society.” He described the strategy as one that “relies on fear and terror at its core,” aimed at depriving people of peace so that “in misery they will ‘self-deport.’”
As a Catholic priest for over 51 years, I’m proud of Bishops like Cardinal McElroy who are willing to courageously speak truth to power knowing the consequences. I was proud of my own Bishop, Kevin Vann, who traveled at some distance to be in court to provide moral support for an undocumented immigrant, father of three marines, as his case was heard.
Bishops and priests are to rise above the partisan politics of the day to boldly point out the immoral dimensions of so many of the draconian aspects of a politics of expediency that are devoid of compassion and empathy not to mention justice for all.
Rather than being enablers of corruption and evil in the name of partisanship that is devoid of ethics, let us join our prayers to support those who shepherd the flock with courage and not cowardice. May they be blessed.