Commentary on the Gospel of
Failures in Ministry
Of late, it has been saddening to hear of stories of suicide by priests. Several causal factors are pointed out. The scandal of sexual abuse has burdened the hearts of many honest priests; they find themselves viewed with mistrust due to the failures of some priests. Another reason is the growing secularism in the world, especially in highly economically developed nations, where the priests find their ministry having no visible impact. But they shouldn’t lose heart: Was Jesus successful in his ministry? Today’s gospel is proof that even the Son of God himself failed in touching the hearts of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum! He would even shed tears for Jerusalem (Lk. 19:41-44). But what must inspire priests and religious is that these setbacks did not deter Christ from his Father-given mission. As St. Teresa of Kolkata has reminded us, “we are called not to be successful, but to be faithful.” In God’s time, the ministry will bear fruit.
