The Transfer of the Relics (1087) of Our Holy Father Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra to Bari; Holy Prophet Isaiah (8th c. BC); Holy Martyr Christopher (249-51)
Polyeleos Feast
Read
Hebrews 13:17-21; Luke 6:17-23
Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!
At the end of the letter to the Hebrews we encounter this admonition to “obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account.” This is expressed in an imperative form; it is a command: “obey your leaders.” We are not given an option here since it is clear that those who lead us are placed in that role by God Himself. Yet who has the harder task here? Is it we who are called to submit, or is it our leaders who must give an account before the heavenly tribunal for how they shepherded souls along the path to salvation? The focus here is on religious leadership, but we might also understand it as speaking about leaders in general.
Submission is not a popular word these days in this era that has been defined by radical individualism, by the rallying cries of “I’m in charge!” or “I know what’s best for me!” Our era is also defined by arm-chair critics, whether it’s the arm-chair political leader, the arm-chair professional athlete, or currently the arm-chair public health expert. We believe that we have the answers. We utter phrases to our friends like “The Prime Minister is an idiot; he doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing”, or “I could play better hockey than that clown”, or “They don’t have a clue how to handle this pandemic.” Really?
Brothers and sisters, the concept of obedience is not at all in vogue, but this does not render it any less of a virtue. Assertion of the individual is what is seen to carry the day, but such an approach has long-term negative consequences on both the individual and the community. Why is this? Because at the root of such radical individualism is the source of all sin: pride. I am not speaking here of blind submission. We should challenge objectively unjust authority, especially when authority violates the moral law. But to submit to lawful authority, whether church authority or civil authority, is rightly to humble ourselves and ultimately to recognize the role of God in ordering all things. Let us pray daily for our bishops and priests who shepherd us and will have to give an account before God that they be true bearers of the Gospel and Christ’s priestly ministry. Let us likewise pray daily for our civil authorities that they might be granted prudence, courage, discernment, and above all wisdom in their governing for the common good of all.