Woof, Woof

Learning to be priests, prophets and kings

06/23/2021

Matthew 7:15-20 Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.”

All leaders of whatever stripe have to wear three hats, or play three roles, namely, priest, prophet and king. How so? Well, leaders are "priestly" because they call people to live for something bigger than themselves, hopefully for God. They play the part of "prophets" when they correct bad behavior. And they wear the crown of "kings" when they help people to live together in harmony.

Now, the funny thing is, no leader ever masters all three roles. They may be good at two, but never all three. Some are great kings and priests but poor prophets. Others are excellent prophets and kings, but mediocre priests. Can you see this dynamic in the priests who have been your pastors over the years, and in the priest who is speaking to you now? For me personally, the hardest hat to wear is the prophetic one. I hesitate to call people out and correct them when they do something wrong.

I will never forget a homily Msgr. Hebert preached about failing to be a good prophet. He said he had neglected preaching about the evil of contraception for many years. He quoted Isaiah 56 where such prophets are compared to dogs who do not bark. And then do you know what he did? Msgr. Hebert actually barked like a dog: “Woof! Woof!” I think he started some of the small children; he certainly startled me! Let me apologize, therefore, if I have failed to bark and warn you about going astray from the gospel. It is hard to play the part of a prophet.

In the gospel today, Jesus, too, suggests that it will not be easy to be a good prophet. He cautions: “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but underneath are ravenous wolves.” Jesus uses the metaphor of “sheep’s clothing” to mean the same thing as Msgr. Hebert’s “mute dog.” That is, false prophets want to appear peaceful and placid and not make people uncomfortable or convicted.

I am convinced that being a true prophet is one of the many strengths of our own Bishop Taylor. He often tells us priests: “If you are getting along with everyone, you are probably doing something wrong.” Both John the Baptist and Jesus were the two greatest prophets of all, and both were killed for it. It is always hard to play the part of a prophet.

My friends, we really need to pay for our country’s bishops who are wrestling with the role of playing the prophet today. Have you followed the news of the biannual meeting of bishops held in June and November each year? This June (last Saturday) they voted 165-55 to draft a document on the Eucharist. They stated that Catholic politicians who are openly and defiantly pro-abortion should not receive Holy Communion. They did not mention anyone by name, of course, but you can guess who they had in mind. The final document will be released in November when they meet again.

Why are they causing all this controversy? Why can’t the bishops just talk about peace and joy and love? Simple: they do not want to be "dogs that do not bark,” or false prophets in “sheep’s clothing.” They know well that if they are getting along with everyone, they are probably doing something wrong. It is never easy to play the part of a prophet.

One thing I am learning from Deacon Daniel Wendel this summer is how to be a happy priest, and even a happy prophet and a happy king. He said that holy humor and heartfelt happiness inspire him to be a priest. And I am convinced that will help us priests to be better prophets, too. Yesterday was the feast of St. Thomas More, who was beheaded by King Henry VIII for not agreeing to his divorce and remarriage, shades of St. John the Baptist. After a couple of years in the Tower of London, More had grown a long beard. As St. Thomas kneeled down about to be beheaded he asked the executioner, “Please keep my beard out of this. My beard did not commit treason.”

All leaders are called to wear the three hats of priest, prophet and king. And by the way, that includes parents, who must be priests, prophets and kings to their children in the domestic church of the home. But each leader only ever masters two of those three roles. Only Jesus was the perfect Priest, Prophet and King. If you are like me and struggle to be a prophet and are tempted to be a mute dog, remember a little holy humor. After all, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Woof, woof.

Praised be Jesus Christ!