servant
Feeling Uncomfortable?
31st Sunday Ordinary Time
Fr. Mark Gatto
Preached: November 5, 2023
Are you feeling comfortable right now? I am not speaking about being comfortable in the new pews! After listening to these passages from the Scriptures, especially the words of Jesus in the Gospel, we should probably be feeling uncomfortable. We often think of the Bible as something that brings us comfort, but if we are reading it properly then sometimes it should be something that makes us uncomfortable.
As a priest, the words of Jesus about the Scribes and Pharisees make me uncomfortable. Jesus says, “do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.” “They do all their deeds to be seen by others.” “They love… places of honour at banquets,… to be greeted with respect…”Do these words apply to me as a priest?
Pope Francis has spoken often about the harm to the church of clericalism. What is that? When one sees himself as superior to the people, sees himself as being over them. When he speaks down at the people, putting burdens on others. The priesthood must be rooted in a servant and humble mentality. Jesus says, “the greatest among you will be your servant.” “Whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” This must be the vision of any Catholic priest.
But, these words of Jesus do not apply just to priests today. They should make many of you uncomfortable. It is a vision of authority and leadership. Anyone in a position of authority should be challenged by these words of Jesus.
Who might this apply to? Teachers, parents, Police officers, CEO’s, politicians. Anyone in any position of authority needs to see themselves not as being over others, but as servants. Anyone in any position of authority needs not to desire to be exalted, but rather to serve others with humility.
– Teachers are not over their students, they are servants of their students.
– Parents are not over their children, they are servants of their children.
– Police officers are not over people in the community, they are servants of the people.
– CEO’s are not over the employees in their company, they are servants of the employees.
– Politicians are not over the citizens, they are servants of the citizens.
This Gospel vision of authority is completely different from what we often see in our world.
We are living in a dark moment of history. We see great divisions, we see destructive wars. Whether Russia in Ukraine or now the war in the Middle East, in Israel and Gaza.
In all of these situations, the problem is with the vision of authority. Authority as being over others, power over others, domination of others. Authority that relies on guns, bombs, military spending. Of course, none of this will ever bring true peace.
The only hope for peace is found in the Gospel vision of authority. We need political leadership that embraces a humble, servant leadership. Leaders who do not see themselves over others but as true servants.
We want the Word of God to bring us comfort. But, it is probably more valuable and important when the Word of God make us uncomfortable. Today’s Gospel offers us a vision of authority and leadership rooted in service and humility. It is a vision of authority needed in our world, in our church, in our families, in our communities. Do not desire to be over others, but to serve others.
Leadership Matters!
Feast Of Christ The King 2022
Fr. Mark Gatto
Preached: November 20, 2022
Leadership matters. The kind of leadership we have in politics and nations, in business, in the church, in families, it really matters.
Why does the church have a Feast called Christ the King? In 1925, Pope Pius XI established this Feast for the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year. It was in response to the increase of secularism and atheistic ideologies that wanted to establish a society with no reference to God. Today it can be an important reference to us about the type of leadership we need in the world.
The fact is that leadership matters. The type of leaders we have matters. Jesus presents us with a model of leadership that is needed in our world. It is not based on violence, control or power over others. It is not authority that benefits the leader alone. We see the leadership of Jesus on the cross. Surrendering his life for the sake of others. Refusing to compromise for his own benefit. A humble servant leadership that brings life to others.
Even as he is dying on the cross we see him turn to the criminal on the one side and promise him eternal life, “today you will be with me in paradise.” It is this model of leadership seen in Jesus that is needed by all leaders today.
This includes leaders of governments and nations. Leaders in business. Leaders in the church. Leaders in families.
Poor leadership of nations and governments leads us to violence and war. Seen so clearly in the Ukraine at this time. Poor leadership in nations and governments leads to the failure to respond to important issues humanity faces, such as climate change and poverty. Good leaders of nations and governments remove corruption, it is focused on the common good. Ready to lay down their life for others like Jesus on the cross.
Poor leadership in businesses leads to the exploitation of workers and of the environment. Good leaders in business leads to good employment and working conditions. They are not focused on profits alone, but also the well-being of workers and creation.
Poor leadership in the church leads to corruption, unaddressed abuse and disunity. Good leadership in the church is rooted in the self-giving love of Jesus seen on the cross. The church needs bishops and priests who are humble servant leaders.
Today the vision of the church sees once again that every member of the church has a priestly call rooted in their baptism. Not only bishops and priests are called to leadership in the church, every member of the church is called to take on responsibility for the mission of the church. As someone who is baptized, you all have a responsibility for the church. We need to journey together as the church in the world.
Poor leadership in families causes lots of brokenness and hurt. Spouses are called to lead like Jesus, self-giving love reflected on the cross. To offer their life for each other. Parents are called to self-giving love, giving of themselves for their children like Jesus on the cross. In the hurts and divisions within families we are all called to leadership that brings healing and forgiveness. Even in the crosses within our family lives, we need to be like Jesus bringing life to one another.
As we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, we are to look to the model of humble servant leadership seen in Jesus giving his life on the cross. Imagine the difference if leaders of nations and governments, leaders in business, leaders in the church and leaders in our families followed the model of Jesus. Leadership matters, look for leadership that is modelled after Jesus. Become leaders that embrace the humble servant way of Jesus.
Have A Servant Heart
29th Sunday Ordinary Time
Fr. Mark Gatto
Preached: October 17, 2021
What is a good motivation for us to be Christians? Our motivation matters.
A few years ago there was a survey of young people that asked them, “why do you want to get married?” The number one answer was, “Because I want to be loved.” The focus in that answer is myself, what I will receive. Focus on me being served. But, a good marriage requires two persons who are other-centred. The motivation has to be rooted in the desire to serve the other, in this case, the beloved.
Many years ago, I remember a very young unwed mother, who had been raised in a very unhealthy broken family. She probably never really felt loved. When she had her baby, I went to visit as she requested baptism and I wanted to support them. As I was there, she looked down at her baby and said, “it is so great, a baby just loves you totally.” I realized that she was looking to be loved by her baby.
But, a parent does not have a baby in order to be loved. As though the baby exists for the parent’s sake. A parent is called to love and serve their baby. The only good motivation for being a parent is to love and serve the child, not expecting anything in return.
The same goes with the motivation for being a priest. Why want to be a priest? Only good motivation is the desire to serve in the name of Jesus. To serve, not to control, not for privilege. Years ago a Professor I had while studying in Rome told us why he did not like to wear a priest collar in Rome. One day he was at the local market and got in line. When the server saw he was a priest he went to bring him ahead of everyone, including some poor people. This really bothered him.
The only good reason to become a priest is to serve people in the name of Jesus. In particular, a parish priest is not about being in charge, or having a privileged position, it is to serve the people of God in this parish.
Why be a Christian? What is our motivation? Prosperity? The Prosperity Gospel has existed the last few decades, especially in United States. It says that if we follow Jesus faithfully then you will be successful and prosper in life. Is that really what Jesus taught?
We know our motivation for being Christian is perhaps distorted when we ask, “Why do bad people have good things?” People will say, “ I have gone to Mass regularly, pray, try to live a good life, why would I get sick, or why would my love one die too young?”
Our Christian faith becomes some sort of contract negotiation with God. I will do this and you will give me that. The only good motivation for the Christian life is to serve in the name of Jesus. To be an instrument of God in the world.
What motivates you? In our Gospel today, Jesus faces the wrong motivations of his Apostles, who are fighting over their position, their privilege, what they will get for following Jesus. Jesus is very clear, “… the great among you must be your servant,… For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve.”
Pope Francis called for a universal Synod of the church. Beginning last Sunday with a special Mass in Rome. It will continue until 2023 when there will be a special Synod of bishops. But, leading up to that, each Diocese and parish in our world is meant to engage in this Synod process.
Synod is an ancient practice in the Church. It simply means “walking together”, the church journeying together. It is the realization that in the church we require all of us to walk together, to work together on the mission.
A big part of this Synod will be the Church being a Listening Church. How can we listen to all people, especially those on the margins who are often forgotten? This listening is crucial if the Church is going to be a servant Church. A Church that like Jesus comes to serve not to be served.
This is our challenge as a Church, this is our challenge as a parish. How do we as a parish become a Church that serves? One key in this Synod is realizing that we need to be a Church that listens so that we can serve.
An 85 year old woman on her birthday was being interviewed. What advice would she have for people her age? “Well, at our age it is very important to keep using all our potential or it dries up. It is important to be with people and, if it is at all possible, to earn one’s living through service. That’s what keeps us alive and well.”
Reporter responded: “May I ask what exactly you do for a living at your age?”
“I look after an old lady in my neighbourhood,”
There are some elderly people who are very limited, shut in and unable to go out to serve. They can continue to serve by praying for the Church, praying for their family, praying for others.
Love and service heals everyone – both those who receive it and those who give it.
Reflect on your motivation for being a Christian. Become a person of service. It will make all the difference for you and others.
As a Church, as a parish, our challenge today is to be a humble servant Church, a humble servant parish. This requires us to be a listening Church as we journey together in this life.
As Jesus came not to be served, but to serve, we need to be a Church that comes not to be served, but to serve.