Pope
Francis once was said, the shepherd must smell like his sheep, this famous
dictum of Pope Francis was given me an
avenue to re-examined myself with regards to my decision and intention in
embracing diocesan way of life. As
religious before my mind was bounded only in community way of life, that
religious community is the top priority, as I look outside the pedestal of the
community I observe that there is something emptiness within me, for I was
deeply touched with the words of our beloved Pope Francis when he said that the
church must be the church for the poor. Meaning to say that we must eradicate
the idea of discrimination towards our poor brothers and sisters for whether we
are rich or poor we belong to this church of Christ.
In
relation to this dissertation of Pope Francis with regards to the authenticity
of leading the people of God, I could say that Pope Francis had a big
contribution to the realization of this what we called in Latin Servus Servurum
die. Servants of the Servants of God. As Pope Francis continue in his homily
address to the Brazilian Bishops dated, July 27, 2013. Unless we train
ministers capable of warming people’s hearts, of walking with them in the
night, of dialoguing with their hopes and disappointments, of mending their brokenness,
what hope can we have for our present and future journey?
As
I try to reflect on the kind of leadership of Pope Francis was trying to
explicate, I could say that this a big challenge for all of the leaders of the
Catholic church, for it is undeniable fact that some of our church leaders are
being smash with this message for most of our church leaders are in great
luxury in there way of life, and they want always to be followed for the reason
that they are a priest bishop and etc.
This
kind of mentality was being corrected by our present Pope, for as Richard Gula
said in his book Just ministry with regards to dynamic of power that even if we
consider ourselves competence with the given power to role over the flock of
God, for that is also what they expect from us, even though we are not worthy
to the said title, for we are more less powerful in relation to those we serve,
depending on our resources of influence relative to theirs.
Meaning
to say that as leader we must inculcate in our mind and heart that like Christ
who came not to be served but to serve, we too must possess this kind of heart,
in other words in leading the flock we must have the passion in leading them
towards liberation rather than deliberation.
Liberation
in the sense that as a leader we must know how to disseminate their different responsibilities in that way we are able to
give them the chance to exercise their capabilities to render serve for the
good of the mother church, not by saying that akoy magbuot kay akoy pari dire.
Lastly
I could say, now that I am already a diocesan seminarian, I’m very proud to say
that what I have not experience in the religious life like pastoral exposure I
have experience it in the diocesan way of life, and I’m very grateful to God
for giving me the gift of discernment.
