Responsibilities of Office
Sep 19: Tuesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Sometimes the choices of the lectionary confuse me. The first reading and the Psalm have to do with leadership and service, and so they seem to go better with yesterday’s Gospel than today’s. But, what do I know?
Reading 1
1 Tm 3:1-13
Beloved, this saying is trustworthy: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable, married only once, temperate, self-controlled, decent, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children under control with perfect dignity; for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of the Church of God? He should not be a recent convert, so that he may not become conceited and thus incur the Devil's punishment. He must also have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, the Devil's trap.
Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful, not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain, holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Moreover, they should be tested first; then, if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. Women, similarly, should be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in everything. Deacons may be married only once and must manage their children and their households well. Thus those who serve well as deacons gain good standing and much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.
Here, we can see the early Church becoming more formalized. There’s a structure and hierarchy, and job requirements for all applicants.
The married bishop thing seems weird to modern readers, but that’s because priestly celibacy only started to be required around 900 years ago. Of course, Jesus, Paul, and several Apostles were celibate, and many priests were celibate in between.
Still, married priests were allowed for a long time, and so Paul wants to make sure that the marriage won’t interfere with the bishop or deacon’s duties. Just as importantly, those religious duties shouldn’t interfere with the responsibilities to their spouse and children.
We all have to find a work/life balance, even the clergy. The Church, in her wisdom, has decided that that balance is too easily upended when a priest is married. That’s how we’ve ended up with celibate priests today.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 101:1b-2ab, 2cd-3ab, 5, 6
R. I will walk with blameless heart.
Of mercy and judgment I will sing;
to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.
I will persevere in the way of integrity;
when will you come to me?
R. I will walk with blameless heart.
I will walk with blameless heart,
within my house;
I will not set before my eyes
any base thing.
R. I will walk with blameless heart.
Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret,
him will I destroy.
The man of haughty eyes and puffed up heart
I will not endure.
R. I will walk with blameless heart.
My eyes are upon the faithful of the land,
that they may dwell with me.
He who walks in the way of integrity
shall be in my service.
R. I will walk with blameless heart.
This is a song from a king (presumably David), thanking God for his position, and promising to rule justly. No one, king, president, CEO, can rule alone. They have to chose the right people to carry out their commands; so, he enlists those with integrity into his service.
God, although he doesn’t need help, wants to enlist us into His service. Do we have enough integrity?
Alleluia
Lk 7:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The people actually recognize Jesus,1 which is nice, because that doesn’t always happen.
Gospel
Lk 7:11-17
Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.”
He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”
The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.” This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.
This miracle is reminiscent of Elijah’s resurrecting the only son of a widow at Zarephath,2 which is why the Jews, familiar with the story, recognize Jesus as a prophet. This continues the theme of universalism.
Yesterday, Jesus healed the servant of a Roman centurion, a foreign oppressor. Today, he heals the son of a Jewish widow, someone at the very bottom of society. Jesus doesn’t care how society views you; He sees you with God’s eyes—love.
Not fully, of course, because that hasn’t been revealed yet.