"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also." (emphasis mine)He would teach the crowds, and while some would sing His praises and would believe the words He spoke as truth, others would criticize, judge, and look for every opportunity to discredit Jesus. About this, He says:
"But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also."(John 15:21-23; emphasis mine)That last line is a powerful statement and one worth remembering, and I think a "wake-up-call" of sorts for us.
I never know how to respond to people that criticize clergy. As usual, that glorious jewel of the Church, the beloved St. John Chrysostom, has an answer for us about judging clergy (from his Homily II on 2 Timothy 1:8-10):
... "For when rulers are honored by their people, this too is reckoned against them; as in the case of Eli it is said, 'Did I not choose him out of his father’s house?' (1 Samuel 2:27.) But when they are insulted, as in the instance of Samuel, God said, 'They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me.' (1 Samuel 8: 7.) Therefore insult is their gain, honor their burden. What I say, therefore, is for your sakes, not for theirs. He that honors the Priest, will honor God also; and he who has learned to despise the Priest, will in process of time insult God. 'He that receives you,' He says, 'receives Me.' (Matthew 10:40.) 'Hold my priests in honor' (Wisdom of Sirach 7:31: Fear the Lord, and honor the priest; and give him his portion, as it is commanded thee; the firstfruits, and the trespass offering, and the gift of the shoulders, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the firstfruits of the holy things.) ... For when a man is piously disposed towards the Priest, he is much more so towards God. And even if the Priest is wicked, God seeing that you respect him, though unworthy of honor, through reverence to Him, will Himself reward you. For if 'he that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward' (Matthew 10:41); then he who honors and submits and gives way to the Priest shall certainly be rewarded. For if in the case of hospitality, when you don't know the guest, you receive so high a recompense, much more will you be requited, if you obey him whom He requires you to obey. 'The Scribes and Pharisees,' He says, 'sit in Moses’ seat; all therefore, whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do, but do not after their works.' (Matthew 23:2, 3.) Don't you know what the Priest is? He is an Angel of the Lord. Are they his own words that he speaks? If you despise him, you don't despise him, but God that ordained him. But how does it appear, you ask, that he is ordained of God? Nay, if you suppose it otherwise, your hope is rendered vain. For if God works nothing through His means, you neither have any Laver, nor are you a partaker of the Mysteries, nor are you the benefactor of Blessings; you are therefore not a Christian. Why, you say, does God ordain all, even the unworthy? God indeed doesn't ordain all, but He works through all, though they are themselves unworthy, that the people may be saved (emphasis mine). For if He spoke, for the sake of the people, by an ass, and by Balaam, a most wicked man, much more will He speak by the mouth of the Priest. What indeed will not God do or say for our salvation? By whom does He not act?" ...
"Hear Paul saying, 'Why do you judge your brother?' (Romans 14:10) For if we may not judge our brother, much less our teacher. If God commands this indeed, you do well, and you sin if you don't do it; but if the contrary, do not dare do it, nor attempt to go beyond the lines that are marked out. After Aaron had made the golden calf, Corah, Dathan, and Abiram raised an insurrection against him. And didn't they perish? Let each attend to his own department. For if he teaches perverted doctrine, though he is an Angel, do not obey him; but if he teaches the truth, don't take heed to his life, but to his words. You have Paul to instruct you in what is right both by words and works." ...
I couldn't have thought of a better way to say it better myself: "Let each attend to his own department"! Let's worry about ourselves (as Christ Himself told us in Matthew 7:5) St. John Chrysostom goes on.....
"You are an inferior servant, not a master. You are a sheep, don't be curious concerning the shepherd, lest you have to give account of your accusations against him. But you say, How does he teach me that which he does not practice himself? It is not he that speaks to you. If it be to him whom you obey, you have no reward. It is Christ that thus admonishes you. ... Let not us judge one another’s conduct, but each his own. Examine your own life. But you say, 'He ought to be better than I.' Why? 'Because he is a Priest.' And is he not superior to you in his labors, his dangers, his anxious conflicts and troubles? But if he is not better, should you therefore destroy yourself? These are the words of arrogance. ... Nor should you think you aren't responsible for these words. Hear what Christ says, 'Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.' (Matthew 12: 36) And do you think yourself better than another, and do you not groan, and beat your breast, and bow down your head, and imitate the Publican? And then you destroy yourself, though you are better. ... Examine your own life. You don't steal; but you are rapacious, and overbearing, and guilty of many other such things. I say not this to defend theft; God forbid! deeply lament if there is any one really guilty of it ...
"He who has a father, whatever faults he has, conceals them all. For it is said, 'Glory not in the dishonor of thy father; for thy father’s dishonor is no glory unto thee. And if his understanding fail, have patience with him.' (Wisdom of Sirach 3:10–12) And if it is said of our natural fathers, much more of our spiritual fathers. Reverence him, in that he every day ministers to you, causes the Scriptures to be read, sets the house in order for you, watches for you, prays for you, stands imploring God on you behalf, offers supplications for you, all his worship is on behalf of you. Reverence all this, think of this, and approach him with pious respect."
Of course, this excellent homily goes on a bit further. That very last line in the quoted text—after reading it, how can anybody have anything critical to about to a priest that baptizes and chrismates us and our children with his own hands, hears our confessions and counsels us, gives us the precious Body and life-giving Blood of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, anoints us when we're sick, joins us in Holy Marriage, and buries us, holds Divine Services and composes homilies for our edification?
