Follow instructions!

THE STORY is told about a parish priest who had the penchant for preaching long and winding sermons. A parishioner had the courage to walk up to him one day and say, "Father, why don't you just print your sermons and distribute them to us?" Not getting the point, the priest answered, "You know, I'm planning to put them all in a book someday and have them published posthumously." "Yes the sooner, the better, Father!" the parishioner replied with a naughty smile!

* * *

If only we priests listened more to the Master and to our people! In today's Gospel (Lk 10, 1-12; 17-20), Jesus instructs his disciples on how to conduct themselves and go about their ministry. It would do well for us, the 3,000 or so priests who will be gathered at the World Trade Center, Manila this July 5-9 for the National Congress of the Clergy, to really listen again to the instructions of the Master so that we will have a "renewed clergy, a renewed Church and a renewed country." Yes, let us all really listen to the Master and follow His instructions.

* * *

Below is a list of what a disciple-any follower of Christ, and, in particular, a priest-should be, based on the Master's instructions: A Representative. We receive our appointment from the Lord, and we are supposed to go ahead of Him and represent him wherever we go. We do not represent ourselves. When people see us or encounter us, may they see Christ in us. We are an "Alter Christus" (other Christ), making the Kingdom of God present in the here and now.

* * *

A Team Worker. Jesus sent His disciples two by two. He doesn't want individual players. He wants a team. And he wants team workers who in turn are team builders, not so much construction builders! We need community. We must be busy building communities.

* * *

A "Pray-er." More than working for the harvest, we are to pray to the Lord of the harvest! Too many "work-ers," and not too many pray-ers! Many of us are hardworking, but are hardly praying. When we work, yes we work. But when we pray, God works in more ways than we can imagine or hope for.

* * *

A Lamb among wolves. It's a tough world we are living in, and people could be mean and uncaring, but we are to be like lambs. We are to take to the road of humility, not arrogance. We do not meet force with force because we believe that God works in mysterious ways. And so we obey, we are patient, and we trust.

* * *

A light traveler. We are to carry no heavy luggage with us and within us. We are to be light as we travel on so that we can radiate more light far and wide. When we become so attached to the world, we may end up detached from the Lord, and out of touch with our people.

* * *

A Peacemaker. We are to sow seeds of love and unity. We are to help form and heal broken relationships. We are to specialize in building bridges, not walls. May we not become obstacles, but instruments of peace. We must be agents of dialogue. We should stretch out our hands and our embrace, especially to those who dislike us.

* * *

A Healer. Because we ourselves have been wounded, we in turn can and should heal. Wounded healers! There are so many people around us who need healing. May we never be the ones to inflict wounds and hurts to our people.

* * *

A Prophet. We search out and proclaim what is true no matter what or who gets hurt. Even if we ourselves get hurt. Part of our being a prophet is our duty to disturb the peace and to shake up people and institutions, if necessary. We should be in constant dialogue and on the lookout for newer and broader horizons. We should specialize in effecting paradigm shifts in people who have become too comfortable or lazy. We are prophets, not for profit!

* * *

A Servant Leader. We are equipped with power and are vested with authority, but we are to use these for service. We who have received much must be generous in our service and caring, especially in relation to the poor, the "unchurched," those of other culture and other religions.

A "Point-er." We must be catalysts of joy and hope -- in a world that has become too focused in the here and now. We should be joyful witnesses, proclaiming not only by words but by our very lives that there is a God, there is a reason, there is a mission, there is a resurrection. We should continue pointing to the big picture in a world that has become so focused on the small screen.

* * *

Come to think of it, if only our elected officials-from the President down to the barangay officials-will really listen to the Master's instructions, we will have a better Philippines. Let's all go for quality leadership. Our people have been suffering too much, for too long. There is urgency for a new start, a new beginning, now. We have not been following instructions, kasi, eh!

* * *

A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help me to really listen and follow your instructions. Amen.