Gospel offers faith example of change

August 24, 2008 -- 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Bishop Robert Morneau

	Bishop Robert Morneau
	Questions for reflection: 1. How do you deal with change? How do you deal with authority? 2. What do you have keys over? A child? A business? A student? 3. How have duties and responsibilities changed over the years?

A popular tourist attraction in England is the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Something there is in the soul that likes such ceremonies.

But there is another changing of the guard in real life that lacks romanticism and is filled with serious responsibility: the inauguration of a new president; the consecration of a prelate; the installation of a new CEO, and the list goes on. Often the change happens because of death or the completion of a term. At times, however, the changing of the guard is made necessary because of irresponsibility and ineffective leadership.

Isaiah tells the story of the master of the palace, not Buckingham, but a palace in the Middle East. Shebna is being thrown out for he has failed in his office. His replacement, Eliakim, is given authority and the key to the House of David. It will be Eliakim's duty to open or shut the palace to whomever he considers worthy of entrance. This position was the result of God's summons, not human initiative. This position of honor was given by the Lord.

In our American history, we have a process of impeachment. When employed, a president can be removed from office for failing to uphold the Constitution or failing in some other way in his obligations. What this signifies is the importance of authority and the weightiness of the office. When the common good is not served, when private interests reign, the changing of the guard becomes necessary.

When Peter responded to Jesus' question about his identity, the Lord conferred upon Peter the keys of the kingdom. Jesus himself was preparing for his ultimate sacrifice, death on the cross. Someone would be needed to provide leadership in the faith. Although not without his weaknesses, Peter was open to God's revelation and was committed to the mission of the Lord. The Gospel presents us with a faith example of the changing of the guard.

On April 19, 2005, Cardinal Joseph Alois Ratzinger was elected pope. He replaced John Paul II who, for 30 years, guided the universal church. We witnessed at the inaugural Mass on April 24, 2005, the changing of the guard in Rome. Although Pope Benedict XVI was 78 years old at the time of his election, he willingly embraced the duties of the chief shepherd of the church. Unlike the Shebna/Eliakim change resulting from mismanagement, the John Paul II/Benedict XVI transition of authority was executed out of necessity and in accord with divine providence.

St. Paul was keenly aware of the nature of authority and when "the changing of the guard" was necessary or not. But Paul was also aware of our human limitation in knowing the nature of God's way. The depth of God's wisdom and the inscrutability of God's ways should give us caution in our involvement in the change of authority. The keys of the kingdom are a sacred trust and must be used with great discernment and discretion.

The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace is a majestic ceremony that signifies very little; the changing of the guard in taking on the duties of the kingdom is most serious and demanding.

(Bishop Morneau is the auxiliary bishop of the Green Bay Diocese and pastor of Resurrection Parish in Allouez.)