EARTHEN VESSELS

EARTHEN VESSELS

By: Bishop John Adel Elya

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"God has exhibited us apostles as the last of all, like people sentenced to death, since we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and human beings alike." (St. Paul, I Corinthians 4:9)

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I vividly remember the scene from the movie "Dead Man Walking" in which the man condemned to death took his last walk between his cell and the electric chair, slowly, sadly, in a breath taking rhythm, step after step, preparing to the final jump from time to eternity. And the guard shouted solemnly: "Dead man walking! Dead man walking!"

Paul compares the apostles to that man condemned to death, "God has exhibited us apostles as the last of all, like people sentenced to death, since we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and human beings alike."

St. Paul likened himself and the apostles to that man condemned to death, heavily burdened by the load of responsibility, and yet not appreciated by the world around him. This brings to mind a poster I saw thirty years ago, but still lingering in my mind: "When I do right nobody remembers. When I do wrong no one forgets."

St. Paul points to the contrast between the challenge of the Apostles, be they clergy or devoted laity like many of our readers, and the self satisfied Christians of his time. The Christians at Corinth complacently felt that they had reached what God intended for them. So, Paul addressed them ironically, but in a challenging manner to wake them up from their complacency or to temper their criticism:

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"We are fools on Christ's account, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clad and roughly treated; we wander around homeless and we toil working with our own hands. When ridiculed, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we respond gently. We have become like the world's rubbish, the scum of all, to this very moment." (I Cor. 4:10-13)

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As in the time of St. Paul, so it is today. Most of the Christians are self-content with their own conduct. Many of them won't pass by any occasion to criticize or find faults in their spiritual servants. Is not this a good illustration of what is going on in America at this time? Too many people go fishing with critical eyes and tongues and pens for scandals and abuses committed by a tiny minority of Catholic clergy.

Some of the alleged crimes took place ten, twenty or thirty years ago. In some instances, the accused have already died. With no intention to minimize the hideous crimes of the few or the great sufferings of the many, it is not fare to throw blanket damnation over the thousands of dedicated priests who have been serving the people of God with full devotion and irreproachable dedication.

Why are people so critical of the Church and of its servants? Because. People in high places are more accountable and they must give a good example of integrity. The closer you come to the light, the more your defects become noticeable. You do not see the dirt in dark corners; but you see it blatantly near a bright-lighted bulb.

The Italians have a good proverb: "Gli onori sono oneri; honors are onerous." The French say: "Nobless oblige," - Nobility has obligations; you must live up to your high status. Ordinary people may commit atrocious misdeeds and do not attract attention; but less offensive deeds are unacceptable in people engaged in God's service.

On the other hand, there is no way to avoid scandal, or to avoid people's criticism, even if you think you are innocent.

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"Woe to the world because of (the scandals,) things that cause sin!" said our Lord, "Such things must come, but woe to the one through whom they come!" (Matthew 18:7-8)

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There is no excuse for breaking God's laws and for hurting people, especially the children and the helpless. Reparations and amends must be made, and all possible means must be used not to allow the same crimes again.

People love sensational news. If a dog bites a man, this is no news; but if a man bites a dog, all the town shouts it from the rooftops. Besides, scandals make newspaper sell. We are human and we are fragile. St. Paul reminds us: "We hold (our) treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us." (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Great people are like the décor of a theater. They have to be seen from a certain distance, so their small defects will not be detected. So, this is the chance we take when we decide to serve the public, especially if we want to serve the way our Lord served. He reproached the Pharisees and the Scribes:

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"John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said; 'He is possessed by a demon. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you said: 'Look, He is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is vindicated by all her children." (Luke 7:33-35).

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Let me now share with you, if you haven't heard it before, the contradictions a priest faces. The title is: "The Priest IS Never Right!"

If he is happy.........he is a nuisance.
If he is austere......... he is bad tempered.

If he is handsome......... why didn't he marry.
If he is ugly ......... nobody loved him.

If he is fat ......... he eats too much.
If he is thin......... he is stingy.

If he is tall......... he looks down on people.
If he is short......... he looks like an altar boy.

If he owns a car......... he likes material things.
If he walks......... he is old-fashioned.

If he visits the faithful......... he meddles in other people's business.
If he stays in the rectory......... he is an introvert.

If he talks about Heaven......... he is a modernist.
If he talks about Hell......... he is a Jansenist.

If he preaches long sermons......... he is boring.
If he preaches short sermons......... he doesn't want to get tired.

If he speaks normally......... you cant understand what he says.
If he raises his voice......... he screams.

If he asks for donations......... he is greedy.
If he doesn't ask for donations......... his bank account should be checked.

If he fixes up the chapel......... he doesn't care about people's money.
If he doesn't fix up the chapel......... he doesn't care about the chapel.

If he is young......... he lacks experience.
If he is old......... he should retire.
If he is in between......... he is in a critical age.

Do as he may......... or even if he does nothing, *he will never be right* !

But if he leaves......... who will take his place ?

Pray for him and help him. (Author unknown)

We need to pray for vocations.

Let us pray for good priests ... I hereby extend a public invitation to all our young people and all those young at heart to consider serving the Lord in priesthood, diaconate in Christ or the religious life.

We read in the Psalms: "Oh, that today you would hear his voice: 'Harden not your hearts.' " (Psalm 95:7-8, quoted by Hebrews 4:7)

If YOU do not do it, it will remain undone ...

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"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Luke 10:2)

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The Most Rev. John Adel Elya, Eparch of the Diocese of Newton, has pastoral responsibility for all Melkite Catholics in the United States. As an Eastern Catholic Bishop (Eparch), in full communion with Rome, he holds a unique position in the ongoing prayer/dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. Melkite Catholics, like their brethren, the Antiochian Orthodox, trace their origin to Antioch, "where they were first called Christians." Consequently, Melkites celebrate the Divine Liturgy and preserve the beautiful traditions and treasures of Eastern Christianity within the full communion of the Catholic Church. Bishop John, who holds a licentiate degree in sacred theology from the Gregorian University in Rome, is widely known for his contagious joy, interior life, true heart for Christian unity, his deep loyalty to the Catholic Church and his passionate desire to see the "two lungs" of Christianity, East and West, breathe together again in full communion.

For more information on the work of the Melkite Catholic Eparchy of Newton, please visit their Web site at http://dsha.k12.wi.us/Melkite/default.html.

Contact

Melkite Greek Catholic Church
http://www.melkite.org MA, US
The Most Rev. John Adel Elya - Eparch, 757 546-9580

Email

keithfournier@cox.net

Keywords

Priesthood

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