Whenever a subject like this is approached, there is an immediate agreement or disagreement among the hearers or readers. Those who are in a position to do something about the problems feel that their authority and/or competence are being challenged. Those who are concerned and objective enough to allow that problems do exist, feel that they are not in a position to do anything about them. Then there are those, the vast majority who have accepted the ‘all’s well - the Church knows best --, and the worst of positions, “Father told us to attend Mass, use your envelope and try not to sin.” These are the ‘status quo’.

One statistic tells us that the Catholic Church is increasing in numbers every year. A closer look reveals that the increase may be relational to the population increase and not due to an increase in conversions. One need only to observe the diminishing attendance at the reduced schedule of Masses to confirm an alarming fact: Being Catholic doesn’t mean what it used to mean! Assuming that ‘truth’ and valid dogma are what nurtured and prospered the souls of the faithful for 1900 plus years to be the overwhelming segment of the Body of Christ that it is, and that the truth and dogma have not changed, where should one look to try to identify the problem?

There is only one actual problem, but it should be stated in several different ways. It would be similar to having a running nose and be coughing and sneezing - these are really the symptoms - the problem is that the person probably has a cold. The treatment works at eliminating the visible signs, while the cold runs its course.

Half full churches, financially hurting parishes, disdain for following God’s law, diminishing annual seminary classes, overt disrespect for God’s servants and then convoluting of the Scripture admonition, “be ye in the world, but not of it”, are an obvious beginning of the list of symptoms.

All of these are the result of one ‘disease’. Its spiritual name is “Unfaithfulness.” Just as with a cold, the degree of the problem is more or less with each individual. As the various areas and depth of unfaithfulness are examined, the road to recovery will be rediscovered. The healing will take its course as the individuals recognize their roles in God’s economy of salvation and allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct their lives and subsequently the Church back to wholeness and Holiness.

THE BLUEPRINT AND AUTHORITY

Using the ‘cold’ analogy, the wisest choice of prescriptions are those that have been tested and are known to work. It is true that new and effective products come on the market, but there is a more basic truth, the products’ basic components always existed, man simple learned to use their potential. A short chronology will bring us up to date. Man is a creation of God’s perfect love even to the mystery of granting him the free will to accept or reject Him. Man rejected, and the Father, in the fullness of time sent His Son to redeem us. The Garden of Eden was probably the only really acceptable place or time of ‘Status Quo’. After the ‘Fall’, man was meant to grow in grace. Jesus made it possible for us to come to the Throne of Grace by His life, death and resurrection. All of those who would subsequently follow after Adam (us), fall ‘short of the Glory of God’, but there is our Hope, “that He who has begun a good work in us, is able to complete it.” He has provided and/or will provide our every need to accomplish His purpose. We have His teaching, comforting, healing Word in the Scriptures. We have His Body and Blood as our spiritual food. We have the Holy Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit to enable and empower us to accomplish His purpose. If we believe that more than these are needed, we simply don’t understand; if we don’t know that these exist, we have not been evangelized.

One again, as with the ‘new prescriptions’, the tools and ingredients already exist, the need is for study and implementation. Jesus ordained the Church with a hierarchical structure. Since Christ’s wisdom cannot be impugned, any shortcomings or failures with regard to leadership must be the fault of those in leadership. Scripture is replete with analogies of shepherding to depict the leading and protecting of the flocks. To upgrade the analogy to the 2000’s, the bishops, pastors and clergy are the primary source of spiritual direction for the greatest majority of today’s Catholics. This was the role by which the Holy Spirit would build the Body of Christ among the masses of a people who were pre-nuclear age. Even though these ‘masses’ are now ultra-sophisticated in practically all areas of life, their spiritual maturity is still in the hands of the clergy. It is the responsibility of the clergy to ‘meet the faithful where they are, although the ideal would be that the ‘church’ would be ‘people being church to one another’. Rather than the ‘faithful’ trying to pass judgment on the shepherds, it is a point of necessity that the leaders examine their own fulfilling of the commission which they have accepted from the Lord.

A logical starting point would be for our priests to be renewed. It may seem like a ‘buzz’ word today, but it is an accurate way to describe what has to take place. As noted in the opening paragraph, this is about where the challenge seems to be thrown down and the feelings of condemnation arise. As men, it would be natural to feel that way. As the anointed of God, they are called to take the plank out of their own eye. They basic ingredients are prayer, questioning and contemplation. We know the role of the Holy Spirit and we know that He is faithful when we ask Him.

One way to apply the shepherding principle is to ‘look at the condition of the ‘sheep’. Are they well fed spiritually? Are they safe against the wiles of the evil one? Do they know the peace of Christ in their daily lives? Are they actively participating in their own Christ-given commission? Can they and do they avail themselves to the gifts they have been given for their well-being?

A good and revealing method of this self-assessment is to give yourself a report card comparing last year with the current year. Using a line grading of 1 to 10 (best) will provide a general view of the sheep’s situation. We can deal with the wholesomeness of attitudes later.

Have your parishioners grown spiritually in the past year?
The does not refer to actual participation at Mass, or in spiritual activities, but to the quality of participation. By your own intuitiveness, if the obligation to attend Sunday Mass were removed, could your parish survive? Do you have a sense that more and more parishioners are attending mass for the shear joy of participating in the Eucharist and worshipping with fellow Christians?

Are the names you list on your rolls actual current parishioners?
If you have or should probably remove some individuals or families, do you know if they moved and registered in a new parish? If they still live in your parish, when was the last time that you or a parish representative contacted them? The parable of the “lost sheep” leaps into mind. Do they perhaps have a grievance against you or the Church rules or procedures? Again, “if your brother has anything against you…….”

Are your parishioners availing themselves of ‘times of Grace’ through participation in spiritual events?
Have the opportunities for adult education in the Faith been real opportunities? Have you sincerely promoted their participation by a type of spiritual direction that seems to make the event ‘important!’ especially if nothing else in the parish life or personal schedule interferes? Are you there yourself as a participant?

The last point on the ‘scorecard’ really permeates through all the other points. Since the Mass is the ‘centerpiece’ of our faith, are your parishioners growing in their understanding of this ‘paschal mystery’ and a more sincere and relevant participation?

Do you say Mass, or pray Mass? Would you feel blessed and that you were doing God’s will, if each parishioner would, at the very least, match your own attitudes toward the Mass and the Holy Eucharist? And lastly, do your parishioners recognize in you, God’s anointing as their earthly ‘Good Shepherd’? If not, do they deserve any less than God intended?

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