Pastoral Reflections IV ~ Obstacles And Temptations: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6, especially vs. 1: "Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart."
Yesterday we explored St. Paul's reflections concerning pastoral authority and observed that every Christian in the Church commits to sharing in the Lord's work as the Pastor of the world. Christ our God expects ordained and lay persons alike to engage in His ministry.
In this reading, the Apostle discusses some common obstacles, which could have subverted his ministry or tempted him away from carrying out his service as a Pastor. Let us examine these obstacles and temptations as serious potential difficulties facing each one of us.
In the opening verse of this portion of the Epistle, St. Paul reveals that ministry and membership in Christ are intertwined, a fact that encouraged him (vs. 1). The same should be true for all the Faithful, for to become a Christian is to receive the mercy of God and a share in the Lord's pastoral work. Awakening to membership in Christ, we are caused to repent because of the Lord's great mercy. In the exchange between man and God, man's heart awakens as it receives cleansing and healing. Cleansing is followed by consciousness of a God-given mandate to extend the mercy, which one has received. Thus ministry is born, and caring and sharing come alive. The needs of others are perceived in a new light. Let us heed St. Paul's experience: "If God can love this most sinful man, then He loves all men, and so must I" (see vs. 2).
Beloved of the Lord, let us love others. God's mercy is fuel; let it ignite our love for the unlovable, extend our care to the hateful, teach us to give when being used and to "go the second mile" (Mt. 5:41). God's mercy makes such actions possible, helps us not to waver nor to become discouraged by abuse, but to allow Christ's pastoral ministry to shine through us.
The primary obstacles to the pastoral ministry are the temptation to serve one's self first and to resign to weariness and indifference. The call of the Lord is a call to struggle, to act as a Christian. Therefore, let us determine to say with St. Paul, "we do not lose heart!"
Think again of the mercy we have received. It leads the Faithful to renounce "the hidden things of shame" (2 Cor. 4:2). All adults who receive Baptism, Chrismation and the Holy Gifts, begin with confession. For those of us who grow up in the Faith, the need for confession comes more often as we mature. When the Apostle received God's mercy, he walked no more "in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but, by manifestation of the truth" (vs.2). Thereafter, he commended himself as an living example of what Christ can accomplish in anyone.
Of course there are temptations to fall back into sinful ways, "As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable" (Prov. 26:11). St. Mark the Ascetic calls this "prepossession," the potential to be occupied mentally again by that which held us previously. There is an involuntary dimension to prepossession since former sins continue in our memory. However, as we seek to serve in the Lord's pastoral work, it is essential to resist temptation - even the temptations to think about sins we have confessed – for return to sin can gravely mar our care for others.
There are other obstacles to pastoral ministry, principally the spiritual blindness of others. Darkness is everywhere, for the "god of this age has blinded" many minds and hearts (2 Cor. 4:4). As the Apostle commends himself "to every man's conscience in the sight of God" (vs. 2), he becomes a shining light. Let us also commend ourselves to others, for when Light is present there is no darkness: "God...commanded light to shine out of darkness...in the face of Jesus Christ" (vs. 6). The Spirit Who dwells in us shines in our hearts to reveal God's mercy to others.
O Christ, let Thy light shine within us that all may see Thee in us, Thine earthen vessels.