Newsletter – 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C. (Vigil Mass)

REFLECTION by Nick Brodie

Pope Leo encourages the Church’s bishops to live ‘a life of evangelical poverty’. As the pope explained in a jubilee meditation, each bishop should exhibit ‘a simple, sober and generous lifestyle, dignified and at the same time suited to the conditions of the majority of his people.’

‘The poor must find in him a father and a brother,’ the pope continued, ‘and never feel uncomfortable in meeting him or entering his home. In his personal life, he must be detached from the pursuit of wealth and from forms of favoritism based on money or power. The bishop must never forget that, like Jesus, he has been anointed with the Holy Spirit and sent to bring good news to the poor (cf. Lk 4:18).’

As we reflect on this week’s Gospel we might ask ourselves how these words apply to each one of us too. Are we called to rise above others, or to stand with them? Are we bringers of hope in our own time and place?

And in a particular way we might also pray for our bishops, that they may be given the grace to heed the pope’s advice and follow Christ’s commission. May we also have the grace to support them in turn when they do.

© Nick Brodie
Nick Brodie is an Australian historian and writer who is currently Dean of Academic Studies of Jane Franklin Hall in Hobart. A graduate of the Australian National University, Flinders University, and the University of Tasmania, he is the author of several books on Australian history and numerous essays on historical, political, and religious topics. In 2017 he was awarded the Bruce Mansfield Prize for the best article in the Journal of Religious History. He is currently studying Theology.