THE FIRST lines in tomorrow's Gospel give us a great insight into Jesus. They let us know he was a "people person", in today's term: "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36).
The Gospel goes on to draw our attention to the naming of the Twelve Apostles. The context is surely significant.All of us are called to show kindness and compassion to our fellow human beings, but for the ordained priest, kindness and concern for people has to be the top priority.
Far too often one hears how people have been alienated and hurt by the harsh words of ministers of religion. What a shame; what a scandal. It's easy to condemn, it's easy to use the pulpit to pontificate and issue edicts, but that was never the way Jesus did things.
Unfortunately, far too often people have perceived clerics as harsh taskmasters. They have seen them as "laying down the law". And maybe for that very reason when all the child sexual abuse stories emerged they felt it was their time to wag the finger just as they had seen the priests do.
But the best way to inspire and influence is by example.
There is much talk at present about a shortage of priests. But there is seldom any talk about improving the image of priesthood, praying that our priests will be - above all - men and women who are interested in people, especially those who are marginalised and forgotten.
After naming his apostles Jesus called on them, to "go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils" (Matthew 10:6-8).
ON THE recent June Bank Holiday Monday I went to the railway station at Newbridge to collect a bicycle I had left there for some time. As I walked over to the bicycle rack a young boy about 14 asked me in a gruff tone what was wrong with me. I responded equally gruffly, asking what was wrong with him. Then I calmed down and apologised to him for my behaviour.
Slowly but surely he too pulled back and calmed. He went on to explain that he had just missed a train to Dublin and was annoyed about it. I pointed out that the wheels of my bike were flat and I too was annoyed.
He went off into the station and over to the "up" platform. I was now standing on the "down" platform. We were the only two at the station and talked to each other across the tracks.
He told me he was 14, as I had guessed, where he attended school, and that he was off to Dublin for the evening. We ended up on good terms. I felt happy with how our encounter had moved from confrontation to friendliness. And no doubt he too was much happier with himself.
Within less than 10 minutes my perception of this young boy changed from seeing him as a suspicious and dodgy character to knowing him to be a pleasant and interesting person. It was a great lesson for me and of course it set me thinking. What began as a potentially nasty altercation at Newbridge station had ended in a moment of grace for both of us because we had the sense to listen to each other and to accept each other's offer of forgiveness.
MC