I am not surprised that most prophets are itinerants. Critics of the church
think we preachers are afraid to tell the truth because we are economically
dependent upon the people of our church, There is something in that, but it does
not quite get to the root of the matter. I certainly could easily enough get
more money than I am securing now, and yet I catch myself weighing my words and
gauging their possible effect upon this and that person. I think the real clue
to the tameness of a preacher is the difficulty one finds in telling unpleasant
truths to people whom one has learned to love.
To speak the truth in love is a difficult,
and sometimes an almost impossible, achievement. If you speak the truth
unqualifiedly, that is usually because your ire has been aroused or because you
have no personal attachment to the object of your strictures. Once personal
contact is established you are very prone to temper your wind to the shorn
sheep. It is certainly difficult to be human and honest at the same time. I'm
not surprised that most budding prophets are tamed in time to become harmless
parish priests.
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