Pope at Mass: Be bishops for your
flock, not for your career
Pope Francis says he prays all bishops follow the example of
the Apostle Paul with his obedience to the Holy Spirit and his love for his
flock. His words came during his homily at Mass celebrated on Tuesday morning
in the Vatican’s Santa Marta residence.
By Susy Hodges
Pope Francis focused his reflections on the day’s reading
from the Acts of the Apostles where Paul, “compelled by the Holy Spirit,” takes
his leave from the Church Elders at Ephesus to go to Jerusalem. “It’s a
decisive move, a move that reaches the heart, it’s also a move that shows us
the pathway for every bishop when it’s time to take his leave and step down,”
he said.
Paul’s examination of conscience
Retracing the biblical account of how Paul summoned the
presbyters of the Church at Ephesus to take his leave of them, Pope Francis
noted how the Apostle made an examination of his conscience, telling the Elders
what he had done for the community and leaving them to judge his work. Paul
seemed “a bit proud,” said the Pope, but in actual fact “he is
objective.” He only boasts about two things: “his own sins and the Cross
of Jesus Christ which saved him.”
The Apostle is listening to the Holy Spirit
Describing how Paul feels “compelled by the Holy Spirit” to
go to Jerusalem, Pope Francis said: “This experience by the bishop, the bishop
who can discern the Spirit, who can discern when it is the Spirit of God
speaking to him and who knows how to defend himself when spoken to by the
spirit of the world.”
In some way, the Pope said, Paul knows that he is going
“towards trials, towards the cross and this recalls for us Jesus’ entry into
Jerusalem, doesn’t it?”
The Apostle, he went on, “is obediently offering himself up
to the Lord. That (expression) compelled by the Holy Spirit. The
bishop who always goes forward but according to the Holy Spirit. This is
Paul.”
His farewell: watch over the flock
Turning next to Paul’s farewell words, Pope Francis noted
how Paul takes his leave amidst the pain of those present by giving them advice
in a testament which is not a worldly testament “about leaving belongings to
this person or that person.”
Paul’s great love, said the Pope, “is Jesus Christ.
His second love is for his flock. Take care of each other and of the entire
flock. Keep watch over the flock: you are bishops for your flock, to take care
of it and not in order to advance your ecclesiastical career.”
Paul’s testament
Noting how Paul entrusted the Elders to God, knowing that He
will take care of them, the Pope stressed that the Apostle spoke of having no
desire to have any money or gold for himself. He described Paul’s testament as
“a witness, as well as an announcement and a challenge.” This was no worldly
testament, said Pope Francis because Paul had nothing to leave to others, “only
the grace of God, his apostolic courage, Jesus Christ’s revelation and the
salvation that Our Lord had granted him.”
The Pope thinks about when his time will come
“When I read this, I think about myself, he declared,
“because I am a bishop and I must take my leave and step down.”
He concluded his homily with a prayer: “I am thinking of all
bishops. May the Lord grant all of us the grace to be able to take our leave
and step down in this way (like Paul), with that spirit, with that strength,
with that love for Jesus Christ and this faith in the Holy Spirit.”
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