In the first reading of the day, we hear the apostles asking the community to find replacement for them to carry on, responsibly and with diligence, the work they were doing - doing charity. It is interesting to note that the apostles did not merely appoint people of their own accord. They asked the community to choose. They merely approved and blessed them.
One might argue that they themselves were picked up by the Lord - not proposed and chosen by the people. And they considered prayer and preaching their main task. But for doing charity, they request the community to elect persons. However, in an age when there is not much of a difference in prayer and charity, when one is called to do both, without being biased towards one or the other, do we also not ought to take into consideration the means of choosing/appointing disciples? Should formation of priests and religious, and most importantly, promotion of them over the years, be the sole privilege of the priests and religious? Should not the lay people whom priests and religious work for and with, not have a say in their formation?
The most formidable reason I fully endorse the need for the approval of the people (formators and lay staff) in permitting priests and religious to the orders or vows is the criteria listed in the Acts: respectable people filled with the Spirit and with wisdom. This will also go on to confirm the fact that every one is capable of discerning the Spirit and recognizing wisdom - not just the religious, or the educated! While it is God who offers us our vocation, it is our individual responsibility to make that vocation useful to others. So why not ask the community - the whole community, and not just the religious or priests alone - to help in the discerning the worthiness of individuals for pastoral ministry?
One might argue that they themselves were picked up by the Lord - not proposed and chosen by the people. And they considered prayer and preaching their main task. But for doing charity, they request the community to elect persons. However, in an age when there is not much of a difference in prayer and charity, when one is called to do both, without being biased towards one or the other, do we also not ought to take into consideration the means of choosing/appointing disciples? Should formation of priests and religious, and most importantly, promotion of them over the years, be the sole privilege of the priests and religious? Should not the lay people whom priests and religious work for and with, not have a say in their formation?
The most formidable reason I fully endorse the need for the approval of the people (formators and lay staff) in permitting priests and religious to the orders or vows is the criteria listed in the Acts: respectable people filled with the Spirit and with wisdom. This will also go on to confirm the fact that every one is capable of discerning the Spirit and recognizing wisdom - not just the religious, or the educated! While it is God who offers us our vocation, it is our individual responsibility to make that vocation useful to others. So why not ask the community - the whole community, and not just the religious or priests alone - to help in the discerning the worthiness of individuals for pastoral ministry?
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