Christian Art | Jesus Teaches Children | Our Christian Faith | Love Revealed By Jesus
Office Of Readings | Week 27, Sunday, Ordinary Time | A Reading From The Pastoral Rule Of Pope Saint Gregory The Great | Let The Pastor Be Discreetly Silent, And To The Point When He Speaks
‘A religious leader should be careful in his silences and useful in his utterances.’
Saint Gregory the Great’s Pastoral Guide is among the foundational texts on Christian leadership and ministry. In this passage, Gregory explores the delicate balance required of every spiritual guide — the tension between silence and speech, between caution and courage. His words address pastors and teachers, but their insight extends to all who exercise responsibility for others.
The central principle is that speech must serve truth and charity. A pastor, Gregory insists, must be ‘silent when discretion requires’ and ‘speak when words are of service’. The key is discernment: both speech and silence can be virtuous or sinful depending on their purpose. Unmeasured or thoughtless speech may wound, mislead, or distract; yet silence, when truth or justice demand a word, can become complicity. Gregory’s concern is not merely rhetorical but moral — the misuse of speech, whether by recklessness or cowardice, has spiritual consequences for both the pastor and those in his care.
Drawing from Scripture, Gregory interprets the prophet’s image of ‘dumb dogs that cannot bark’ as a condemnation of pastors who remain silent in the face of evil. Their silence is not humility but fear — fear of losing human approval or security. In contrast, the true shepherd resists the ‘powers of this world in defence of the flock’, standing firm ‘on the day of the Lord’. The pastoral task is thus depicted as a form of spiritual combat, in which words, when rightly used, are weapons of truth and healing.
Gregory’s analysis of prophecy provides another layer of meaning. Teachers in the Church are called ‘prophets’ not because they foretell the future but because they expose the illusions of the present and reveal the enduring reality of God. When they fail to ‘point out wickedness’, they become false prophets, offering ‘an empty promise of safety’. For Gregory, correction is not condemnation but liberation: ‘the word of reproach is a key that unlocks a door.’ By naming sin, the pastor helps the sinner recognise his need for repentance and return to God. In this sense, speech — when used rightly — opens the way to conversion.
Gregory further grounds this responsibility in the New Testament. The bishop, according to Saint Paul, must be able to ‘encourage men in sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it’. Likewise, Malachi describes the priest as ‘the messenger of the Lord of hosts’ whose lips ‘preserve knowledge’. The priest’s speech, therefore, is a sacred trust: it communicates divine wisdom, not personal opinion. To be silent when truth must be spoken is to fail in this ministry of stewardship.
The closing image is striking and deeply symbolic. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended ‘in the form of tongues’ — a sign that divine inspiration impels proclamation. For Gregory, this means that those filled with the Spirit are moved to speak truthfully and boldly. A pastor who cannot speak for God is a ‘dumb herald’, unable to warn, guide, or comfort. The Spirit’s fire, in contrast, gives voice, conviction, and clarity.
Gregory’s vision of pastoral ministry thus combines humility with courage. The pastor must discern when silence serves mercy and when speech serves justice; he must correct without cruelty and teach without arrogance. But above all, his speech must be inspired by the Spirit — not by fear or pride — so that it becomes a true instrument of divine truth and love.
A Reading From The Pastoral Rule Of Pope Saint Gregory The Great | Let The Pastor Be Discreetly Silent, And To The Point When He Speaks
A spiritual guide should be silent when discretion requires and speak when words are of service. Otherwise he may say what he should not or be silent when he should speak. Indiscreet speech may lead men into error and an imprudent silence may leave in error those who could have been taught. Pastors who lack foresight hesitate to say openly what is right because they fear losing the favor of men. As the voice of truth tells us, such leaders are not zealous pastors who protect their flocks, rather they are like mercenaries who flee by taking refuge in silence when the wolf appears.
The Lord reproaches them through the prophet: They are dumb dogs that cannot bark. On another occasion he complains: You did not advance against the foe or set up a wall in front of the house of Israel, so that you might stand fast in battle on the day of the Lord. To advance against the foe involves a bold resistance to the powers of this world in defense of the flock. To stand fast in battle on the day of the Lord means to oppose the wicked enemy out of love for what is right.
When a pastor has been afraid to assert what is right, has he not turned his back and fled by remaining silent? Whereas if he intervenes on behalf of the flock, he sets up a wall against the enemy in front of the house of Israel. Therefore, the Lord again says to his unfaithful people: Your prophets saw false and foolish visions and did not point out your wickedness, that you might repent of your sins. The name of prophet is sometimes given in the sacred writings to teachers who both declare the present to be fleeting and reveal what is to come. The word of God accuses them of seeing false visions because they are afraid to reproach men for their faults and thereby lull the evildoer with an empty promise of safety. Because they fear reproach, they keep silent and fail to point out the sinner’s wrongdoing.
The word of reproach is a key that unlocks a door, because reproach reveals a fault of which the evildoer is himself often unaware. That is why Paul says of the bishop: He must be able to encourage men in sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. For the same reason God tells us through Malachi: The lips of the priest are to preserve knowledge, and men shall look to him for the law, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. Finally, that is also the reason why the Lord warns us through Isaiah: Cry out and be not still; raise your voice in a trumpet call.
Anyone ordained a priest undertakes the task of preaching, so that with a loud cry he may go on ahead of the terrible judge who follows. If, then, a priest does not know how to preach, what kind of cry can such a dumb herald utter? It was to bring this home that the Holy Spirit descended in the form of tongues on the first pastors, for he causes those whom he has filled, to speak out spontaneously.
Christian Prayer With Jesus Christ
Lord of truth and wisdom,
you have entrusted your word to the lips of your servants.
Grant to all who guide your people
the grace to speak with courage and to be silent with discernment.
May their words heal, instruct, and console;
may their silence protect what is holy.
Fill your Church anew with the fire of your Spirit,
that we may bear witness to your truth
and proclaim your mercy to all the world.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Glossary Of Christian Terms
Saint Gregory the Great (c. 540–604) – Pope from 590, theologian, and reformer. His Pastoral Guide (Regula Pastoralis) became a standard manual for bishops and clergy throughout the Middle Ages.
Pastoral Guide (Regula Pastoralis) – A treatise written by Gregory outlining the duties, character, and responsibilities of spiritual leaders. It emphasises humility, discernment, and moral vigilance.
Discretion – The spiritual virtue of right judgment; knowing when to speak or remain silent, and how to act appropriately in different circumstances.
‘Dumb dogs that cannot bark’ – A biblical image from Isaiah 56:10 used here to describe negligent pastors who fail to warn or protect their flock.
Prophet – In Gregory’s usage, not primarily a foreteller of the future but a teacher who interprets divine truth and exposes moral error.
‘Word of reproach’ – A term Gregory uses to describe corrective speech that reveals sin and leads to repentance; it is both truthful and medicinal.
Pentecost – The event described in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, symbolised by tongues of fire, empowering them to preach boldly.
Mercenary shepherd – A biblical figure (from John 10:12–13) representing a leader who serves for personal gain rather than genuine care for the flock.
Discernment of speech – The practice of aligning one’s words with God’s will; a central theme in Gregory’s pastoral and moral teaching.
In this verse, Jesus speaks about welcoming the stranger. Jesus teaches us that caring for those in need, including refugees, is an expression of our love for God. This passage calls us to open our hearts and homes to those who are seeking refuge and safety, reflecting God’s compassion and mercy [ … ]
In our Gospel verses this Thursday and Friday, and also Sunday (B), Jesus develops on the parable of the vine and the branches with an injunction for us to be at one with each other, as with Jesus and the Father, through love. The love to which we are called is of a special quality. It is divinely inspired and a reflection of Jesus’ love for us, itself a reflection of the love between the Son and the Father. This is the new commandment [ … ]
King James Audio Bible | KJV | King James Version King Herod There were several individuals named Herod who played significant roles in ancient history, particularly in the history of the Roman Empire and the region of Palestine. Here is a brief overview of the most notable Herods: Herod the Great: Also known as Herod I, he was a Roman client king of Judea, ruling from 37 BC to 4 BC. He is perhaps most famous for his role in the biblical story of the birth of Jesus, in which it is said that he ordered the slaughter of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two in an attempt to kill the newborn Jesus. Herod Antipas: Also known as Herod II, he was the son of Herod the Great and ruled over Galilee and Perea, two regions in Palestine, from 4 BC to 39 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned John the Baptist and later had him beheaded. Herod Agrippa I: Also known as Herod III, he was the grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over Judea from 41 to 44 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned the apostle Paul. Herod Agrippa II: Also known as Herod IV, he was the great-grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over parts of Palestine and Syria from 50 to 100 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who heard Paul’s defence before the Roman governor Festus. These rulers, who were known as the Herodian dynasty, were not Jewish but rather descended from a Greek family that had converted to Judaism. Despite this, they were appointed as rulers by the Roman Empire and were generally unpopular among the Jewish population due to their collaboration with the Roman occupation and their often brutal methods of rule. Herod The Great Herod the Great, also known as Herod I, was a Roman client king of Judea who ruled from 37 BC to 4 BC. He was born in 73 BC in Idumea, a region in southern Palestine, and was the son of Antipater the Idumean, an Edomite who had been appointed as a governor of Judea by the Roman general Pompey. Herod rose to power after the Roman general Julius Caesar appointed him as king of Judea in 40 BC. He consolidated his power over the next few years by defeating his rivals and establishing himself as the undisputed ruler of the region. As king, Herod embarked on a massive building program that included the expansion and renovation of the Temple in Jerusalem, the construction of the port city of Caesarea Maritima, and the fortification of several cities in Judea. He also commissioned the construction of a number of palaces and other buildings, including the famous Herodium, a palace-fortress located south of Jerusalem. Despite his many accomplishments, Herod was a controversial figure who was known for his harsh rule and his willingness to use violence to maintain his power. He was married several times and had a large number of children, several of whom he had executed when they posed a threat to his rule. One of the most famous stories associated with Herod is the biblical account of the birth of Jesus, in which it is said that he ordered the slaughter of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two in an attempt to kill the newborn Jesus. According to the New Testament, Jesus was saved by his parents, who fled to Egypt, and later returned to Palestine after Herod’s death. Herod died in 4 BC at the age of 70, leaving a legacy as one of the most significant rulers in the history of ancient Palestine. Herod Antipas Herod Antipas, also known as Herod II, was the son of Herod the Great and ruled over Galilee and Perea, two regions in Palestine, from 4 BC to 39 AD. He was born in 20 BC and was named after his father’s patron, the Roman emperor Augustus. Like his father, Herod Antipas was known for his ambitious building projects, including the construction of the city of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee and the expansion of the Temple in Jerusalem. He was also known for his political cunning and his ability to navigate the complex political landscape of the Roman Empire. Herod Antipas is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned John the Baptist, a prominent religious figure who criticized Herod’s marriage to his sister-in-law, Herodias. According to the New Testament, John was eventually beheaded at the request of Herodias’ daughter, Salome, who danced for Herod and his guests at a banquet. Herod Antipas is also mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who oversaw the trial and execution of Jesus. Although he initially wanted to release Jesus, he ultimately handed him over to the Roman authorities at the urging of the Jewish religious leaders. Herod Antipas’ rule came to an end in 39 AD when the Roman emperor Caligula exiled him to Gaul, modern-day France. He died in exile a few years later. Herod Agrippa I Herod Agrippa I, also known as Herod III, was the grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over Judea from 41 to 44 AD. He was born in 10 BC and was the son of Aristobulus and Bernice, two of Herod the Great’s children. Herod Agrippa I was well-educated and fluent in both Greek and Hebrew, and he was highly regarded by the Roman authorities for his loyalty and his ability to maintain order in Judea. He was appointed as king of Judea in 41 AD by the Roman emperor Claudius, who was impressed by his abilities and saw him as a reliable ally in the region. As king, Herod Agrippa I continued the building projects of his grandfather and expanded the Temple in Jerusalem. He also implemented a number of reforms aimed at improving the lives of the […]
