Wherever The Bishop Is....

Last evening, the new Bishop of Allentown came to celebrate Mass for the Lehigh deaneries (a cluster of parishes in the Lehigh County) It was a chance for us to get to see the bishop and see the Church at work from a larger perspective. As the bishop walked in preceded by a deacon holding the Gospel high in his hands, I started to get a little teary. I was moved by watching this ancient practice of a bishop, who can trace his lineage to Jesus and the apostles, tending his flock, obeying the command of Jesus to watch over his sheep. There was something surreal about it. Watching a bishop who by the serial laying on of hands over 1900 years is in direct historic continuity with the Church that gave us the New Testament. Quite something to ponder. St. Ignatius who was taught by some of the apostles and learned what church governance and authority was from them wrote this in 107 AD on his way to Rome for martyrdom:

“You must all follow the bishop as Jesus Christ follows the Father, and the presbytery as you would the Apostles. Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be there; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church” Epistle to the Smyrnaeans, 8).