20220222 UNITY THROUGH DICTATORSHIP OR BUILDING CONSENSUS
22 February, 2022, Tuesday, St Peter’s Chair
First reading | 1 Peter 5:1-4 © |
Watch over the flock, not simply as a duty but gladly
Now I have something to tell your elders: I am an elder myself, and a witness to the sufferings of Christ, and with you I have a share in the glory that is to be revealed. Be the shepherds of the flock of God that is entrusted to you: watch over it, not simply as a duty but gladly, because God wants it; not for sordid money, but because you are eager to do it. Never be a dictator over any group that is put in your charge, but be an example that the whole flock can follow. When the chief shepherd appears, you will be given the crown of unfading glory.
Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 22(23) © |
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me,
to revive my drooping spirit.
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me along the right path;
he is true to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness
no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff;
with these you give me comfort.
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
You have prepared a banquet for me
in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil;
my cup is overflowing.
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me
all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell
for ever and ever.
The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.
Gospel Acclamation | Mt16:18 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
You are Peter,
and on this rock I will build my Church.
And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.
Alleluia!
Gospel |
Matthew 16:13-19 © |
You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’
UNITY THROUGH DICTATORSHIP OR BUILDING CONSENSUS
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [1 Peter 5:1-4; Psalm 23:1-6; Matthew 16:13-19]
Today’s feast is rather odd because the Church celebrates the Chair of St Peter. This is strange because practically all feasts are concerned with some people and so it seems to be out of place to celebrate a chair. Yet, the fact that this day is given a celebration with a rank of a feast implies that this commemoration is important for the Church. What then does the feast really celebrate? Certainly, we can discount the idea of a chair as something material. Rather, the Chair has a symbolic meaning. Firstly, the Chair symbolizes authority and power. Secondly, the Chair as in the university when a professor holds the chair of philosophy means that he is the chief teacher for that particular subject. Thirdly, the Chair refers to the person who conducts and regulates a group as in a meeting.
Transferring these connotations to the Chair of St Peter, this feast would then celebrate the authority of St Peter and his successor; the authority of being the Chief teacher of the faith so as to preserve the purity of the Faith and also to be the sign of the unity of the Church. These ideas are present in the scripture readings. In the First Letter of Peter, we have St Peter addressing his fellow elders, implying that he must be in a position of pre-eminence to address them as such. Then in the gospel, we find again and again the position held by St Peter as the spokesman of the twelve. In uttering the confession of faith, St Peter spoke on behalf of the apostles. Consequently, his faith is the faith of the Church and on this faith of St Peter, Christ promised authority, victory, fidelity and purity.
The issue that confronts us in today’s liturgy is, how should the Church, particularly in this instance the pope, maintain the purity of the Faith and also the unity of the Church? Should he exercise his authority in an arbitrary way, that is, in a dictatorial manner or should he exercise his authority in a democratic approach through consultation, dialogue and common consensus? If today’s feast is ecumenically sensitive it is because in the history of the Church, there were bad experiences of the Pope being too dictatorial in his decisions. The climax of the over centralization of power in the Pope culminated in Vatican I, 1870 declaring the dogma of the Infallibility of the Pope. Nevertheless, we must understand that such a reaction was in response to the Reformation and the cultural and intellectual epoch of that time.
Or should the Church adopt the democratic approach of the Protestants, where people are elected into the board; and decisions are made by the board that has been elected by the community. Which method could be considered the right approach to preserve the truth and the unity of the Church?
Today, all of us in our own right hold positions of authority. We as leaders too are called to preserve the unity of our community and the truth as well. How should we discharge our responsibilities as leaders? Should we adopt the dictatorial or the consensus approach? There are difficulties with regard to these two approaches. A dictatorial approach certainly is not in line with today’s contemporary mentality. Today, the emphasis is on building consensus.
But the danger of the consensus method is that one can appear to be weak and indecisive. The more serious weakness of the democratic approach is that truth can be compromised by the need to win over the people. If that were so, then even though governing by popularity might bring about unity, it could also bring decadence and destruction as well. In the long run, it could be self-destructive, especially if the people are immature and lacking in foresight and judgment. But as leaders, it is important that we are able to lead our people forward and not simply following the herd. We are called to lead and not to be led. At any rate, trying to please everyone would only end up pleasing no one.
Consequently, neither the authoritarian nor the consensus approach is the key to preserving the unity and purity of the Church. What is required is collegiality. Thus, such a lob-sided emphasis on the almost exclusive authority of the Pope was replaced by the emphasis on the collegiality of the bishops in union with the Pope in Vatican II. Vatican II clearly teaches that the Pope and his fellow bishops must always act as a college; and even if the Pope acts alone, it is always in union with the college, just as St Peter confessed the faith on behalf of the apostles. The convocation of synods and conferences is an attempt of the Church to exercise more consultation and collegiality. Hence, although the pope should consult his fellow bishops and the Church as a whole, it is he who makes the final decision on weighty matters. The Church in this sense is not democratic, otherwise we cannot preserve the truth of the gospel. We would lose our autonomy and authority to proclaim what is right.
Therefore, the gospel today invites us to recognize the ways God works in our lives. We are called to respect authority. Yet, it must be remembered that those who exercise authority must, as St Peter advised, “never be a dictator over any group that is put in your charge.” Rather, we must act like shepherds interested in the needs and feelings of our flock. Yet, at the same time, whilst consulting and having sincere and open dialogue with those under our charge, we must be courageous enough to make honest decisions, even when such decisions are painful and difficult; after all, shepherds are called to witness to the sufferings of Christ. Thus, the approach that is considered appropriate for the Church, which is the Church of Christ, and we are his shepherds, is that of collegiality, not democracy or authoritarianism. This implies that we must exercise our responsibilities with courage, conviction and fidelity to the truth; yet seeking dialogue and understanding through consultation before making decisions.
As for those of us who are under authority, let us submit ourselves to those who are placed over us. If we disagree, we certainly have a right to voice our opinions. But because views, especially in a community, can be so diverse, it is important that once such views have been aired and the superior has made a decision, all must support the decision and put aside one’s individual and limited self-interests. In this way, the unity of the community and the purity of the truth of the gospel will be lived and preserved.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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