When a takeaway from the National Eucharistic Congress for Bishop Zurek was that there was , “an incredible sense of ‘Reverence‘”, NOT for the Eucharistic, “Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life“, but rather, “for the Deacons, Priests and especially for the Bishops“; then shouldn’t I question whether it is the “Way” of synodality to the Kingdom of Heaven, or the “way” of clericalism to, “different types of abuse“, for which His Excellency is urging me to go and sell everything I own and buy at St. Mary’s Cathedral❓
We lose the capacity to realize “I, as a lay person, do not always have all the knowledge”; while it is quite probable that the deacon, priest or bishop has a much fuller picture of what is actually happening.
From a letter from Bishop Patrick J. Zurek to the Faith Community at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Amarillo.
Today’s Office of the Readings
Have I, as a lay person, once again lost the capacity to realize that I didn’t have all the knowledge when I thought that the National Eucharistic Congress was about reverencing the Eucharist, not, “Deacons, Priests and especially … Bishops“, as Bishop Zurek, who says he, “has a much fuller picture of what is actually happening”, said he observed; however, is it the man who commends himself (as Bishop Zurek is doing here) that can be accepted, or the man who is commended by the Lord, (who Bishop Zurek did not mention as being revered) from whom I should accept testimony; furthermore, shouldn’t I also remember that, “When Ignatius reflected on worldly thoughts (like Deacons, Priests and especially … Bishops), he felt intense pleasure; but when he gave them up out of weariness, he felt dry and depressed; yet, when he thought of living the rigorous sort of life he knew the saints had lived, he not only experienced pleasure when he actually thought about it, but even after he dismissed these thoughts, he still experienced great joy“;…
you raised up Saint Ignatius Loyola in your Church
to give greater glory to your name.
Grant that, aided by his prayers,
we may fight against all that is evil on earth,
and with him receive the crown of victory in heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Today’s First Reading
…indeed, “I did not sit celebrating
in the circle of merrymakers”, as Bishop Zurek did when he attended the Eucharistic Congress;…
Today’s Responsorial Psalm
…nevertheless, “God is my refuge on the day of distress“, and for that reason I attend Mass daily…
Today’s Alleluia
…Alleluia, alleluia;
subsequently, although Bishop Zurek says as a lay person I need to realize that I, “do not always have all the knowledge”, yet, didn’t the Lord say, “I call you my friends,…
for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me“;
Alleluia, alleluia.…
Today’s Gospel
…consequently, knowing that, “The emptier a person’s heart is, the more he or she needs things to buy, own and consume“, why should I sell all that I have and buy into, “the seductions of the ephemeral, by mediocrity and habit, by the temptations of power and social influence, by vainglory and narcissism, by doctrinal intransigence and liturgical aestheticism, forms and ways in which worldliness hides behind appearances of religiosity”, and even reverence for, “Deacons, Priests and especially …Bishops“, but in reality consists in seeking, instead of the, “pearl of great price” found on the “path of synodality”, the false hope of human glory and personal well-being brought about by clericalism❓