Failure and Fidelity

Seeing our weaknesses highlight God’s goodness

04/26/2021

John 10:1-10 Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them. So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

A priest-friend of mine has a surprising, even scandalous, argument for the fact that the Catholic Church was established by Christ. Believe it or not, he points to the period of the Renaissance popes for proof of the divine nature of the Church. Such an argument should shock you because that was the worst period for the papacy. For my friend, however, that is exactly how it highlights the holiness of the Church. How so? Well, the period of the papacy for about 150 years, from 1417 to 1559, was fraught was utter depravity and decadence. For example, some popes even had mistresses and illegitimate children whom they promoted to positions of power.

Do you know where the word “nepotism” comes from? It is based on the Latin word “nepos” which means “nephew.” Some of the Renaissance popes, like Pope Callistus III and Alexander VI elevated their nephews as cardinals, they were called “cardinal-nephews.” And that is where the reprehensible practice of nepotism originated. Not surprisingly, then, not one of the 19 Renaissance popes was ever canonized a saint or his cause even considered. And yet for my friend, this period was proof positive that God established the Church. Why? Simple: because if the Church had been merely a human institution it should have collapsed under the weight of all that sin, scandal and selfishness.

But the fact that the Church endured, and even expanded, in the aftermath shows that the Holy Spirit had not abandoned the “bark of St. Peter. Jesus promised Peter and his successors in Mt 16:18, “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” And nor will the Renaissance popes. In other words, the Catholic Church belongs to Christ, not to any pope or priest, however revered or rotten he might be. By the way, it was very hard for me personally to say all that in public. I only say it to highlight our humanity and by contrast Christ’s divinity, and his desire to protect and preserve his Bride, the Church.

In the gospel of John chapter 10, Jesus demonstrates how he is the Good Shepherd by contrast to those who are evil shepherds. Sometimes you can prove your point by emphasizing the negative, like nepotism. Jesus declares: “All who came before me are thieves and robbers…A thief comes only to steal, slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” Now, John insists that Jesus intended that rebuke for the Pharisees.

But in a broader sense, Jesus meant it for all the shepherds who put themselves before the sheep, such as the Renaissance popes.

The faults and failings of Church leaders are not a call to abandon the Church, but rather to see that how Good Shepherd never abandons his Bride. And it is in him alone that we put all our faith, hope and love. Catholics may give up on the Church and stop going to Mass, but Christ never does. Indeed, as St. Paul writes: “Christ loved the Church [as his wife] and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water and the word” (Ep 5:25-26). Our failures highlight his fidelity.

My friends, I hope you hear today’s message as good news not only for the universal Church but also the domestic church of your own family. Why? Well, what do children invariably see as they grow up: the faults and failures of their parents. So, they often swear: I will not be like mom and dad when I father my own family! But we end up making the same – or worse – mistakes than they did. Sometimes we feel the temptation to give up on our parents because we see their sins and scandals. But that can also be a call to see Christ’s presence in our domestic church as the Good Shepherd. Our failures shine a bright light on Christ’s fidelity.

Jesus’ words in John 10 are not only directed to the Pharisees and the Renaissance popes, but also to me and you. Do not be too discouraged by your sins and struggles, your faults and failings. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow,” says Heb. 13:8. And you and I are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, too. Our failures only highlight his fidelity.

Praised be Jesus Christ!