8 April 2019
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
St. Ignatius Loyola considered the possibility that the superior general of the Society of Jesus, due to his personal failures, might need to be deposed (Constitutions 774). Thank God that no such deposition has ever happened in over four centuries since the Society of Jesus was founded. In my opinion, it was level-headed and prudent of the founder of my religious order to consider that one of his successors might prove to be unworthy of his office. You don’t need to read much history or current events to find cases of gross leadership failure. The scriptures, too, are replete with such examples. Moses, for example, great man that he was, was removed from his leadership position by God because of his faults, and, as punishment, was denied entrance into the promised land.
Another example: “That year, two elders of the people were appointed judges, of whom the Lord said, ‘Lawlessness has come out of Babylon, that is, from the elders who were to govern the people as judges.’” This text comes from the 13th chapter of the prophet Daniel. It is a text which many Christians, including Roman Catholics, affirm to be part of the scriptural canon, although many others dispute that claim.
The text may make some readers uncomfortable because it portrays two elders, appointed judges, abusing their authority, using it for worldly gain. If you read the whole story you will find out that, in the end, justice is served (Deo gratias) and the elders are punished.
May God protect his Church from lawlessness out of Babylon, that is, from false shepherds, elders and judges, and whenever they do arise, may God give us the grace to pursue justice with due respect and due charity.