Socio-Cultural Context of Ministry

Today in most of the Christian communities a priest is a well respected figure. He is looked up to as the representative of God. This happens usually in some places wherein the people have deep religiosity. Sometimes people just don’t even mind the faults of a priest. In most of the celebrations or feasts, the priest occupies a prominent place. In banquets, a distinguished place is usually reserved for priests. This situation may become an occasion wherein a priest is somehow put on a pedestal. In this matter if the priest would not be cautious, he might be distancing himself from the people especially from the marginalized sector of the community. The poor people, the unlearned, and the unpopular would be so reluctant to approach the priest.

At first glance, it is so appealing to be regarded or associated with something heavenly. The society attributes to it positive qualities such as goodness, beauty, cleanliness, tidiness, and the like. To be linked to these things could be a source of security or to boost the ego of the priest. But I don’t see it as somewhat sensible. Divinity or holiness does not necessarily mean nice-looking in the physical sense according to worldly standards. Now, the difficulty lies in how to balance our relationship between those in the higher strata of society and those in the grassroots level. The challenge here is how to make both ends meet and we have to make preference to those who have less in life. Indeed we are taught about the Church’s preferential option for the poor. I am poor myself. So, there is no problem with being with the poor. But what about the poorest of the poor, those people who are frowned at by society?

At one time I was assigned to serve during the mass at the cathedral. It was the occasion when the new chandeliers were installed and blessed. The chandeliers were magnificent as well as the donors. The special people were occupying the front seats and of course they should be given special treatment because they are composed top ranking government officials, church benefactors, and prominent personalities. But while looking at the fabulous and extravagant chandeliers question came to mind. I asked myself how many poor people that might have been helped by the amount spent by these kind of things.

It would sound unbecoming if the priest in that situation would say in his homily he would talk about how we have neglected the poor by installing the chandeliers. The priest should not make remarks that would disappoint the socialites. He is also a public figure. And by that stature, he could set an example in order to be persuasive on taking a stand to put into practice the teachings of the church. The priest really is an influential person and sometimes because of that position he would be subjected to scrutiny and malicious strategies by some of those who possess power in the society. So, he should be extra careful, but not to compromise the Christian values. He should put on the armor of God to be able to fight against the forces of evil in the immediate and present society (cf. Eph 6:11-13).