Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 01 February 2024
Our gospel last Sunday (Jan. 28) of Jesus going to the synagogue in Capernaum on a sabbath day was so rich that a day was not enough to reflect its meanings. It was so engaging that we too were “astonished” and “amazed” at the “authority” of Jesus!
And how it clearly spoke a lot about our exercise of authority as priests today.
Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes... In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit… Jesus rebuked him… And the unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud voice came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
Mark 1:21-22, 23, 25, 26-28
See how Jesus showed us authority is primarily spiritual in nature, a sharing in God’s power rooted in our worship, in our liturgy. Christ’s authority was first noticed in the context of a sabbath worship in the synagogue, a beautiful reminder from the Lord himself for us his priests to be always in communion with God like him in our prayer life, both as an individual and a member of the community. How we priests celebrate the Mass reflects our prayer life, our spirituality that people would surely feel. Or miss.
That is why the Eucharist is the summit of Christian life – people are edified and blessed wherever the Mass is celebrated with great dignity by priests who vowed to give their total selves for Christ and his flock. It is in the sacrifice of the Mass we priests first pour our total selves to God and his people that it is always a major event we prepare for – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It is for this reason we priests need to be back in our rectory not later than 10pm every day because we need to prepare for the following day’s Mass. Explain to the people, to our friends and families we do not have to stay late every night in coffee joints or restaurants. Once in a while, maybe but not frequently.
How sad when priests refuse to celebrate especially daily Masses in their parish or when they would pass on their “ordinary” Mass in order to be on TV or where there would be more exposures. Every Mass is special as we must have all realized during the long COVID lockdowns, but, alas! – there were some priests who shamelessly went on vacation mode too during that period when daily Masses were most needed.
Are people still astonished and amazed with our authority as priests in the way we celebrate the Holy Mass especially on Sundays these days?
Many Catholics are getting confused at the many deviations from our liturgical norms that the Mass has become a variety show in some instances, worst like a carnival with the priest as a showman than a presider of the celebration.
What a pity when our Sunday Mass is devoid of the holy and sacred when priests have made it so cheap and so low – crass – in hopes of reaching more people, touching their emotions believing they would experience God in that way.
We priests should be clear first of all of our roles as priests and along this line too to see our congregation as companions in faith and ministry not as an audience who need to be entertained.
People come to Mass on Sundays to experience God above all and they expect only one thing from us priests – that we are men of God or the “other Christ” (alter Christus) who would lead them to God. Priests need not assume (consciously or unconsciously) the roles of matinee idols nor comedians nor singers nor political commentators nor politicians when at the altar of sacrifice. As a presider of the Mass, we link God with the people and the people with God and with one another. It is not the venue to make marriage proposals! It is after that when couples go to the altar where we as priests officiate their wedding.
Lately I have seen so many articles about the difficulties and hazards in the priesthood during the recent Simbang Gabi season. Fine. Nobody said it would be easy. We know that since our seminary days. But, should we be the ones posting those articles? For what? For excuses to our lapses?
It is so pabebe, so paawa. And so pathetic of us priests begging for understanding and comfort from people. If we truly pray, explaining to the people how demanding and exhausting our duties are the least of our concerns as priests. It is even shameful for us to post those articles when people see us on Facebook gracing all the social events in the community – from birthday parties to debuts – while rubbing elbows with the rich and famous in the most exclusive resorts and posh hotels.
Speaking of parties…sometimes I feel we have so many social gatherings as priests. Why the need for a Christmas party when we are all tired (meron bang hindi?) and most all, we are so needed in the parish with all the weddings during the season? Of course, we need to unwind together as priests but let us face the truth how our spiritual and pastoral gatherings as priests are always empty compared with our social gatherings when everyone is so eager and so raring to go, even extend. Very often, the priests who keep on harping about the need for us to unwind and relax are also the laziest in the parish and ministry. (Frown or be mad, then it is true.)
Tomorrow is the Feast of the Presentation at the temple of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is also the day we devote in prayers for those in the consecrated life of which we priests are also very much a part of.
See again the scene and setting of the event which is the temple where Jesus would later be found after being lost for three days. What a beautiful reminder to us priests of our authority and life centered in the Eucharist, at the Altar of the Sacrifice of the Mass inside our church. Luke narrated how Simeon sang upon finding Jesus Christ:
“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”
Luke 2:29-32
Luke said how Simeon along with Anna the Prophetess spent their lives praying and fasting a lot in the temple while awaiting the coming of the Christ. Their prayer lives made them so attuned with the Holy Spirit that of the many couples coming there at that time they were able to recognize Joseph and Mary as having the promised Christ.
Simeon said he saw the light of salvation, Jesus Christ. What do we see in our parish, in our church, in our celebrations? Is it the light of salvation in Christ or lights, camera, action!?
Going back to our gospel last Sunday when Jesus went to preach and heal in the synagogue at Capernaum on a sabbath, we are reminded that our authority as priests like that of Simeon in the Presentation is always a reflection of God’s presence. It is never of domination nor manipulation that we find it so easy to declare in the parish whatever we want as the plan of God. Secondly, true authority is a sharing in God’s power of love and compassion that liberates the people, giving them a sense of true freedom to love and serve God in the parish or anywhere (https://lordmychef.com/2024/01/27/authority-is-when-we-claim-god-whom-we-proclaim/).
May we keep in mind our authority is a gift from God, a sharing in his power for us to make him present and felt in our loving service to everyone, especially the sick and the weak, the poor and the marginalized. Amen.
lordmychef.com 