Saturday 2 March 2013

Lead us not into temptation

On Tuesday I presided at a Eucharist for the chapter I have recently joined. Preparing, I looked at the gospel set for the day and decided firmly that a time for silent reflection would be much more appropriate than exegesis from me. For the passage was from Matthew 23, Jesus' thorough warning about the failings of the religious leaders of his day. The dangers that come with being called to serve  as a member of the clergy are as real today as they were then. Reading a warning about the love of fancy garments (at the time large phylacteries and long fringes on prayer shawls) while wearing alb and stole (at least the host church wasn't the one with the gorgeously embroidered chasubles)... Well. Jesus warned his disciples to do as their leads said but not as they did. He add that they create heavy loads for the people, loads they had no intention of helping with or trying to carry themselves.

All those dangers are still there, and I am sure every one of my colleagues is as aware of it as I am. However hard we try, our parishioners want to put us on pedestals, assume that our words are true and valuable (as indeed they should be) and look to us to give instruction and leadership. Many of us work in traditions where the trappings of buildings or dress are deliberately beautiful, to give glory to God. It is only too easy to allow the human sinner to enjoy the attention and the power and the potential glory too much, only too narrow a divide between speaking and working to God's glory and diverting the attention to ourselves, especially if we have parishioners who enjoy what we do and are kind enough to say so. We walk a tightrope. One slip and we inhabit the same territory as the scribes and priests that Jesus so rightly condemned.

And we have seen others fall. Every week it seems that the papers are triumphing over the fall of a priest who has given into the temptations which the power we have over others make so easy. Sexual sin or financial dishonesty make good news story. Knocking people off the pedestal and proving that no one is above others, no one is that good, that is the stock in trade of the press, and it makes our battle against our own human frailty all the more risky. If we fall, everyone will know about it, and enjoy the entertainment.

Jesus words in this chapter of Matthew are very challenging for the clergy. Jesus tells his followers not to call anyone father, or teacher or rabbi, because those titles belong to him and to his Father. All the rest of us are followers. And yet here we are, called by God to lead his people. And many of my colleagues do use the title father, and all of us set out to teach and instruct. It's in the job description. How can we reconcile our Lord's instructions then with his call to us as his servants now? How can we ensure that we work with adequate humility, always pointing to Jesus and never allowing ourselves to become the focus of attention or adoration. If we do our jobs well, the risk that some people might want to praise us for our work is always there. And being human. To a certain extent we do need to hear some of that praise to motivate us to keep going and to assure us that we are doing the job well. Back on the tightrope then.

For a group of clergy listening to that gospel reading, silent reflection on our own work seemed the only possible response. In Lent, silent prayer that the particular temptations that lay in wait for the clergy may be resisted by each of us. Time to quietly grasp the balancing pole that gives us a chance of making it across the tightrope walk without falling.

Lord Jesus, keep us balanced and focused on you, keeping us from falling now, and bringing us safely to your kingdom; that those we seek to lead will also look to you only and come safely to your kingdom.

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