A Sorrowful Surprise
/April 25, 2022
Scripture
Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves. (Luke 22:25-27 NLT)
A Sorrowful Surprise
The news last week that Mark MacDonald not only resigned as Archbishop but also relinquished the exercise of ministry due to acknowledged sexual misconduct came as a sorrowful surprise to me and I’m sure only adds to the wounds of the Indigenous people he served.
Many of you will have seen my recent interview with him and as much as the issues we explored are important and many of his reflections were true and helpful I have regretfully removed it from our media locations.
My close friend who affirmed my plans to interview Mark is also dismayed. As we spoke, we were reminded that sorrow for the perpetrator and compassionate anger for the victims is a fine line to run.
Our recent Easter celebrations remind me that Christ’s sacrifice was for my sins as a perpetrator but also for me as victim whose wounds might be healed through reconciliation. It has been a recurring sorrow to hear so many stories of celebrity spiritual figures being found to use their power and influence for destructive purposes.
The failures can’t lead to self-satisfaction but keep us mindful of the ongoing need for us all to be followers of the suffering Jesus who was and is “among” us as servant, not celebrity. May God keep us from carelessness in our own use of the gifts and responsibilities with which we have been gifted.
A Prayer for Today
Loving God, we are a complex mix of sinner and saint, forgiven and in need of forgiveness, perpetrator and victim. As Jesus taught us; forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. Help us protect those who are in places of power, that they be servants, not users and abusers. Keep us on the same honest serving path …. For Jesus’ sake
