Participation in Christ's Prophetic Office

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Bishop of Arlington
(From the issue of 10/2/03)

This homily was given by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde on the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time during the Mass for the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars Convention at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel on Sept. 28, 2003.

Permit me to begin with a word of gratitude and affirmation for your service to the truth and for your contribution to the Church and society as Catholic scholars.

Through your study and research and in your scholarly presentations and papers, are you not allowing the words of Moses in today’s first reading to be fulfilled in you: "Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets! Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all!"

I see in your scholarly endeavors your making tangible and effective within the Church and in society your participation in Christ’s prophetic office in which all the baptized share as the Catechism teaches, "‘The holy people of God shares also in Christ’s prophetic office,’ above all in the supernatural sense of faith that belongs to the whole people, lay and clergy, when it ‘unfailingly adheres to this faith … once for all delivered to the saints,’ and when it deepens its understanding and becomes Christ’s witness in the midst of this world" (no. 785).

This participation in Christ’s prophetic office is the task of both the clergy and laity. You give such clear evidence of this. As Saint Thomas Aquinas reminds us: "To teach in order to lead others to faith is the task of every preacher and of each believer" (cf. Cathechism, no. 904). So,

I thank you and affirm you for responding to the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit, sent by the Father and the Son in order to lead us into the fullness and splendor of the Truth.

To this first word, I add a second: a word of encouragement. The issues you study and research and reflect upon are weighty and challenging. A review of this year’s topics during your convention confirms this. As you go about your task of deepening the understanding of the Catholic faith as it illumines contemporary issues, remain open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Both the first and third readings proclaimed in our hearing moments ago point to this openness. The Spirit of the Lord not only rested on the 70 who were in the gathering presided over by Moses, but also on two others named Eldad and Medad, who were away from the group, who were back in the camp. Normally, that should not have happened, but it did — under God’s providential care. John told Jesus that someone who did not belong to their company, someone who was not a disciple, was using Jesus’ name to drive out demons. That too should not have happened, but it did under God’s providential care. The point is clear: God chooses to act in ways that are both predictable and surprising. Are we open to His action in us and in others? Are we open to following the Holy Spirit’s lead wherever it takes us?

In your scholarly pursuits, I encourage you to remain open to the Holy Spirit as He enables you to reflect more deeply on the fullness and the integrity of our Catholic faith and as He inspires you to listen carefully to the insights of persons, who may not be one with us in the fullness of faith but are sincerely searching for Truth. As Jesus reminds us, "there is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us." Your openness to the Holy Spirit’s direction will enable all of us to echo today’s psalm refrain: "The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart." As you help us to reflect on the Lord’s precepts, we will discover wisdom and hope and joy.

Finally, to these words of gratitude, affirmation and encouragement, I add a word of exhortation: continue your daily efforts to be holy, to be formed more and more into the image of Christ Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Our Holy Father is so clear on this point. " … I have no hesitation in saying that all pastoral initiatives must be set in relation to holiness ("Tertio Millennio Ineunte," no. 30). Again, "The ways of holiness are many, according to the vocation of each individual" (Ibid, no. 31).

Your calling of Catholic scholars demands that you continue to grow in holiness as you respond to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who leads you ever more deeply to the infinite riches of the Truth and who strengthens you ever more firmly to share the fruits of your reflection with all God’s people. Thus together, we will grow into a holy people, radiating the Splendor of Truth and proclaiming the Gospel of Life for the salvation of the world!

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