Catholic bishops were reminded that leadership in the Church is not a reward for readiness or status, but a response to a divine call that often disturbs comfort and expectations, as Bishop Ronald Anthony Timoner of Pagadian, southern Philippines, said during a Mass marking the opening of a four-day bishops’ seminar on January 20.
Bishop Timoner presided over the Eucharistic celebration at the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Quezon City, inaugurating the seminar held ahead of the 131st Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) scheduled for January 24–26.
Opening his homily with light humor, Bishop Timoner greeted his brother bishops by admitting to a “hangover” after a full day of discussions on artificial intelligence. Beneath the laughter, however, was a deeply reflective message: that authentic Church leadership begins with attentiveness to God’s call, even when it unsettles security and human expectations.
Drawing from the First Book of Samuel, Bishop Timoner reflected on the call of David, who was tending his father Jesse’s flock when the prophet Samuel summoned him—unaware that God had already chosen him to be Israel’s future king.
“David was comfortable where he was,” Bishop Timoner said. “Yet he left that comfort zone when God called.”
He noted that God’s invitations often come unexpectedly and can be unsettling, even for those who are faithful. For bishops, he acknowledged, the call to episcopal ministry is frequently accompanied by fear, hesitation, and a sense of unpreparedness—much like David’s sudden summons from the fields.
“Like David,” he said, “we are asked to respond in faith and obedience.”
Turning to the figure of the prophet Samuel, Bishop Timoner reflected on the challenge of true discernment. Although faithful, Samuel initially judged Jesse’s sons by outward appearance, assuming that the one who looked “kingly” must be God’s choice. Yet the Lord rejected each of them, offering a lasting lesson.
“Outward appearances do not define people or determine their value in the Lord’s plan of salvation,” the bishop said.
Citing Isaiah 55:8, he reminded the assembly that God’s ways and thoughts are far beyond human standards. God, he emphasized, searches the depths of the human heart and often chooses the unlikely and the ordinary to accomplish extraordinary works—so that the glory belongs to Him alone.
Applying this insight to episcopal ministry, Bishop Timoner acknowledged the limits faced by Church leaders, who cannot fully see into the hearts of others and are therefore tempted to rely on visible achievements, reputation, or human judgment.
“That is why,” he said, “we are invited to rely more deeply on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”
The homily became a call to interior conversion, urging bishops not only to discern others carefully, but also to examine their own hearts. True leadership in the Church, Bishop Timoner stressed, is rooted not in authority or appearances, but in humility, inner spiritual depth, and trust in God.
“The Lord also invites us to look more deeply into the condition of our own hearts,” he said, “and to be resolved about developing our inner spiritual being more than what people see on the outside.”
As bishops from across the Philippines continue their seminar and prepare for the plenary assembly, the reflection resonated as a timely reminder: the future of the Church does not depend solely on human brilliance, institutional strength, or technological advancement, but on shepherds willing to be disturbed by God’s call and obedient to His will.
The Mass concluded with prayers entrusted to the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, invoking the God who “looks not at appearances but at the heart.”
In a Church navigating complex challenges in a rapidly changing world, Bishop Timoner’s reflection stood as a quiet but powerful reminder that God still calls shepherds from the fields—and still asks them to trust Him beyond comfort.
(With reports from RVA freelancers Leahna Villajos and Oliver Samson)
