Church becomes sick when not proclaiming Gospel

We are celebrating the feast of St Peter and St Paul—the two who did so much to ensure the missionary outreach of the early Church. Both were all too human: they made mistakes of epic proportions, yet were not too proud to seek reconciliation. The two were so alike and yet very different. Simon Peter, the Galilean fisherman, used to hard work, and a natural leader. With Jesus he was prepared to take risks and move out of his comfort zone. He was spontaneous and could make promises that he would never be able to fulfil. In Peter, we can see so much of ourselves. Paul is the conservative, ultra-Jewish thinker. His aim in life is to ensure that the followers of Jesus are destroyed—indeed he played a prominent part in the murder of the first Christian martyr, Stephen. It is in this toxic atmosphere of hatred that the Lord reaches out to Paul: 'why do you persecute me?' Jesus fully identifies with those who are suffering and hurt. Jesus reaches out to the one who caused that pain—what is Paul going to do? What do we do when faced with the selfishness of hate?

As we know, through the gifted ministry of Peter and Paul, the Christian message spread across the known world from its Jerusalem and Jewish base. Both were inspirational leaders who encouraged in personal and by letters. Our faith grew from simple beginnings, as a Jewish sect to a global community that has to be open and welcoming of all, regardless of age, gender, sexuality, and politics. Those readings that we have in Church were not written for us, so that clergy would have something to preach about. The letters of Paul and Peter were written to real communities, face real problems. This feast reminds us that we have to think outside the box in our ministry. Just like our heroes of today, we need to take risks.

In an address to the pilgrims in St Peter's Square. Pope Francis took up a theme that he enjoys: 'DO NOT BE AFRAID OF REACHING OUT TO THOSE ON THE MARGINS!' He takes as his model the ministry of Jesus; as we see in Gospels, Jesus is heavily criticised by the establishment for being with the poor, the outcasts and the sinners. Are we, the Church of 2022, especially here in Britain 'guilty' of that same charge or are we content to stay with the rich, the powerful, and be a Church of comfort?

When I took my lifeguard lessons years ago, I was warned that one was only to enter the water in extreme circumstances. I am struck by Jesus's encounter with John the Baptist at the River Jordan: Jesus, God made man, joins the pilgrims seeking forgiveness. He ignores the "lifeguard's" instructions and enters the water; he identifies fully with the sinners and poor in need, even though John felt he was unworthy to undo the straps of Jesus's sandals. Pope Francis calls us to take risks and be involved, even if it means that we might make mistakes. Take it from one who has made plenty in ministry: if you just sit back, allowing the world to pass you by, you will be safe certainly, but will you be fulfilled? In my opinion, the Church is not meant to be just safe; it has to accompany, it has to listen, and, above all, it must shine with the light of compassion—so characteristic of the mission and writings of Peter and Paul. Again, from personal experience, we can open ourselves up to making mistakes, but, as the Pope reminds us,

The church needs to be like God: always going out; and when the church does not go out, it becomes sick… It is true that when someone goes out there is the danger of getting into an accident. But it is better a church that gets into accidents because it goes out to proclaim the Gospel than a church that is sick because it stays in. (20th September 2020)

The choice is simple, as we move forward: are you happy to return to the way we have always done things, or are you ready to embark on a new and exciting way of being Church-even at the risk of making mistakes? I am heartily sorry for those mistakes I personally have made in ministry and offer unconditional apologies to anyone I have hurt. It is in those experiences of hurt that we gain valuable experience and become those 'wounded healers' that our Church needs more than ever today. As the wisdom of Henri Nouwen reminds us:

Who can save a child from a burning house without taking the risk of being hurt by the flames? Who can listen to a story of loneliness and despair without taking the risk of experiencing similar pains in his own heart and even losing his precious peace of mind? In short: "Who can take away suffering without entering it?" The Wounded Healer

It seems to me that there is a vocational choice open to all of us in the Church in these days: to either go out on the Camino of life and risk making mistakes or stay under the trees, in the shadows, hoping no one can see us. Of course, it will be uncomfortable, but Jesus does not promise a life of comfort and ease. We can do great things for God, and we may well make mistakes, but we try! However, as the great John Wesley reminds us, Christianity is a call to be different and to move away from our comfort zone:

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.

Enjoy your feast and enjoy this chance to take a risk today.

Author: Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB

Image: Photo by Varvara Grabova on Unsplash