Good Shepherds that Teach, Sanctify and Govern

Bishops, as successors to the original twelve Apostles, are called to share in the mission whom Jesus Christ himself confided to that first group of twelve special friends and later witnesses to His resurrection. This mission, which the Bishops receive from Christ himself, is a threefold one which has as its ultimate goal the attainment of salvation and the fulfillment of the commandments by all those entrusted to their care. In paragraph 11 of Christus Dominus, the decree from the Second Vatican Council concerning the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church, the council fathers remind us that: "Individual bishops who have been entrusted with the care of a particular church--under the authority of the Supreme Pontiff--feed their sheep in the name of the Lord as their own ordinary and immediate pastors, performing for them the office of teaching, sanctifying and governing".

The Office of Teaching

Every bishop carries on the mission of the Apostles by being the primary witnesses of the risen Christ in their diocese. They are modern day prophets, heralds of faith. They fulfill the biblical mandate to “to teach all nations and to preach the Gospel to every creature.” This process, also known as evangelization, is the explicit sharing Christ’s truth and love with others. While being done primarily through the preaching, teaching and catechizing of each Bishop in his diocese, this is also expressed in other ways. Bishops also preach and teach by the various acts of charity that are carried out in their diocese. The hungry are fed, the thirsty are given something to drink, the naked are clothed and the sick and incarcerated are visited and attended to. All of this “reaching out with the Gospel”, and not just taking care of those that show up at each individual parish, is part of the Bishops responsibility of being a conduit of Christ’s truth and love.

The Sanctifying Office of the Bishop

By the proclamation of the truth of Jesus Christ the Bishop is leading the community towards the thankful and loving worship of God. The Bishop, as one marked with the fullness of the sacrament of Orders, is a minister of grace and by celebrating the sacraments in the community he fulfills the office of sanctification, making us one with God. This is done primarily in the offering of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, the Mass, where we enter into true communion through, with and in Christ our Lord. Because of this one of the tasks of the Bishop is to make sure that the Mass is celebrated, properly and regularly, throughout the diocese. Through the Eucharist the Church becomes what we consume, the Body of Christ. Bishop’s are our primary sacramental ministers. Through the faithful celebration of this and all other sacraments the Bishop is assuring that all in the diocese have a transforming encounter with Christ that will strengthen us for the many responsibilities at hand. This path of sanctification, first lived then shared by each bishop, leads the community of faith to greater love and service in Christ.

The Governing Office of the Bishop

The Second Vatican Council, in paragraph 27 of the Constitution on the Church, states: "Bishops, as vicars and ambassadors of Christ, govern the particular churches entrusted to them by their counsel, exhortations, example, and even by their authority and sacred power, which indeed they use only for the edification of their flock in truth and holiness, remembering that he who is greater should become as the lesser and he who is the chief become as the servant (cf. Lk 22:26-27)". Bishops, specifically the ones which are in charge of a diocese, are given authority which is to be utilized for the edification or building up of the local Church. Authority is given to them not for the purpose destruction but for construction of the community of faith. Authority and the power that comes with it is not meant to go to their heads but to be a tool that will guide them to greater and more humble and loving service. In the governing of their diocese they are to become a reflection of Christ the servant.

"Let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant" - Lk 22:26

"Whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many" - Mk 10:44-45

Conclusion

I truly believe that a bishop is a gift from God to the community. Let say thank you to God for these wonderful gifts by embracing our bishops and becoming with them one body with one heart and one mind, that of Christ himself. Let’s keep in mind that each bishop, by carrying out the various offices or tasks entrusted to them, truly becomes a reflection and conduit of Christ’s truth and love. They are our good shepherds that teach us, sanctify us and govern us in and through Christ our Saving Lord. Let’s pray for them often.