“You do not write your life with words…You write it with actions. What you think is not important. It is only important what you do.” ~ A Monster Calls
Two years ago, on February 11, 2020, Msgr. Robert McClory was ordained to the episcopacy and installed as the Fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Gary. Since then, he has been leading the diocese not only with words but also with action. He knows that the faithful need to see someone living the faith and not just speaking about it.
Words can be quite powerful. However, if those words are not backed by actions, they are seen as empty and useless. If, on the other hand, the spoken word is built upon by someone’s actions, those words can be more than powerful. They can be life-changing. St. Paul wrote about this in his beautiful letter to the Church in Corinth. He stated that we could have the most wonderful words or actions in the world but if they were not backed up by love, they were meaningless.
It is quite difficult to be a bishop. When they give their word and accept the role, there is much that is demanded and/or expected of them. I found that out when I was elected by the priest-consultors to be the administrator of the diocese until a bishop had been named. The administrative duties alone are enough to keep a person busy but they are just the tip of the iceberg.
A bishop has to make himself available to all sorts of people whether he wants to or not and whether he likes them or not. He has to listen, to determine, to choose, to deny, and a whole host of other actions. I am sure that there are many days a bishop says to himself, “Why did I say yes?” We all do that in our lives.
However, the times that we question ourselves and our choices are far less than the times that we feel convinced that we did the right thing in choosing our particular lot in life. May we find the wherewithal to continue what we are doing, hoping that we are doing everything because that is what God wants of us.
FAITH ACTION: Pray that Bishop McClory continues to receive all the graces that he needs to be a good and faithful shepherd to the Diocese of Gary.