Pope Francis tells us that the way the Church works must change from a top-down model to a bottom up model. The first model is the pyramid model—the Pope at the top, next the bishops of the Church, then the pastors and at the bottom of the pyramid is everyone else. Those at the top are the “teachers” and those at the bottom are “learners”. The assumption is that those at the top have a special type of holiness.
Pope Francis says that the pyramid must be turned the other way around. The base now becomes the top; and the top represents the whole People of God—clergy and laity, all the baptized. Some of the baptized are called upon to provide particular services for the People of God, they are to promote the good order of the Church community. They are the pastors, bishops and pope. They are part of the People of God, the Community of Faith and they have a vocation of service to the Body of Christ.
There is no special holiness. The Vatican Council taught that there is “a universal call to holiness.” All God’s people are called into union with God and with each other. All God’s people have received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and form the Body of Christ.
Pope Francis tells us that this renewed image of the Church demands that we respect each other, be willing to listen to each other—really listen—willing to be open to whatever it is that the Holy Spirit leads us to undertake in a new age.
Soon the Saint Matthew Community will gather in groups to reflect on the mission of our parish community and how it is that we can live that mission more effectively in the 21st century.
The last time we did this was forty four years ago. It is time to do it again. The Church is always called to reformation and renewal. We are called to reflect upon who we are.
The unexamined life is the life not worth living.
Fr. Steve Adrian
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