Be Christ, not Christian

In this Sunday’s second reading, Paul starts with a beautiful image of his loving tenderness to the people placed under his pastoral care: “We were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children.” He continued that he worked day and night in order not to be a burden to them. Isn’t this what the Church is meant to be in our service to people, not a burden to anyone?

Pharisaic Clericalism. Jesus denounced the Pharisees and the Scribes in the gospel for their ‘clericalism’. “They preach but don’t practice, and they laid heaven burden on people’s shoulders and didn’t even lift their finger to move.” They paid scurrilous attention to how they looked and what people thought of them. They loved the place of honour. Jesus lambasted their ‘clerical’ manner. To counter this hypocritical manner, Jesus exults humility and service. 

Pope Francis has lamented the scourge of clericalism in the Church. He said it disfigures the face of the Church and turns the Church into a spiritual supermarket where spiritual items can be purchased with a money price. Clericalism is counter-witness to the gospel value, and a distorted attitude of what Christianity is meant to be. “The greatest among you must be your servant.”

Call to Radical Conversion of Mind. Pope Francis mentioned that “We are not living in an epoch of change so much as a change of epoch”. We cannot go on with the old way of thinking and doing. We need a new way of thinking and doing things. That requires a new mentality or a conversion of mentality. Conversion of heart and mind is an ongoing call in Christian life and Church. It is an effective antidote for clericalism and abuse in our Church.

Be Christ. Mahatma Gandhi famously said, “I like your Christ, but not your Christianity”. Many modern-day people often say they believe in Christ but not Christians. This is because people don’t see Christ in Christians. A Christian without Christ at his/her heart is a contradiction in terms.

The Church is not about doom and gloom. The Church will survive like a ‘phoenix is born from ashes and hope’, because it is capable of being renewed. At the same time, the Church can’t go on and maintain this current status quo, it needs to be purified, open to and let by the Spirit of Christ. The unforgiven sin is the sin against this Spirit.

This current world is fragmented, disoriented and confused. Leadership is needed more than ever, people are dying crying out for guidance. The Church, out of its own experience of being sinful and wounded, can be a ‘field hospital’ for fragmented wounded people where they can identify with. We have to have the face of Christ, not a distorted Christianity. Let’s be Christ to one other, rather than a Christian without a Christ at his/her heart.

John Quang svd.