Mass for Archbishop’s tenth anniversary

The Catholic Church is not an expert in finance and the economy, but it has wisdom to offer the world through its bishops including Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon.

Vicar General Martin Sirju gave this perspective on Tuesday, September 21 in his homily at a Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on the tenth anniversary of Archbishop Gordon’s ordination to the episcopate.

The gospel for that day, the Feast of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, was Matthew 9:9–13. The crux of Fr Sirju’s talk was on “money and salvation”.

Alluding to Archbishop Gordon’s past in the private sector before becoming a priest, Fr Sirju said Archbishop Gordon knew about “the handling of money”. He was a very good administrator and organising, “putting systems in place”.

The Archbishop was “always striving his best to have transparency and accountability so the Archdiocese’s financial dealings were clear.” Pope Francis too has shown determination to get the Vatican finances in order.

Noting that Matthew 16:9 refers to money as a “tainted thing”, Archbishop Gordon has demonstrated seriousness in financial matters. He and other bishops are called to be models to the world how to deal “with this sticky business of finance,” Fr Sirju said.

The Church can offer a good model of fairness, justice, charity, solidarity and the common good.

One of the words often used by Archbishop Gordon was “change management”. Fr Martin said it was not only a business term, but also indicates behavioural modification. Matthew, the tax collector needed a change of mind and action.

Fr Sirju said, “Change management is part of conversion; this must have been difficult for Matthew the tax collector because he was accustomed to one way of dealing with money, but Jesus invites him to see money from a theological perspective, from a gospel perspective.”

Speaking to Matthew about the handling of money, Jesus could have used Bob Marley’s words, ‘Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; None but ourselves can free our minds’.

Jesus would have brought Matthew to a different vision and to see the structures of evil which can be found in the world and in the Church. “It is in an acknowledgement of the world and its weaknesses that concerns the handling of money that Matthew must have been brought again to a conversion by Jesus,” Fr Sirju said.

His second point was that Archbishop Gordon would face loneliness because the world of finance may not be receptive to criticisms. It is in the “solitary moments” that he can find what it means to be a servant leader, a worker in the vineyard and child of the Kingdom.

Fr Sirju added that although he had a consistent prayer life, Archbishop Gordon would have to “pray harder”.

His closing point was on the “gift of tears”. The Archbishop too, must weep as Jesus did. Fr Sirju said he could weep for “ecclesial violence”, poverty, climate change, a disenchanted universe that does not have time for God, futility, doubt, uncertainty, and darkness.

He repeated the words of Pope Francis to the people of the Philippines in 2015, “certain realities of life are only seen with eyes that are cleansed by tears”.

Archbishop Gordon was presented with a gift by the Vicar for Clergy Msgr Esau Joseph towards the end of the Mass.

In attendance were clergy, religious, family including his mother Rose Marie, sister Elizabeth who did the First Reading, uncle Ken Gordon, friends and well-wishers.

The intercessory prayers were given by representatives of the Archdiocesan commissions.

In remarks before the final blessing, Archbishop thanked everyone for their presence–family, clergy and religious, Living Water Community members, archdiocesan staff, and lay parish representatives.

“My heart is filled, and I am filled with gratitude to God that these ten years have been a fruitful ten years. Thank you for being a support.” —LPG