With you I am a Christian but for you I am a bishop. I first heard and saw this unique quotation when I was still a 3 year college seminarian. I didn’t know that this phrase will create an impact along my journey with the Augustinians. It so happened that I was in Augustinian Contemplative Nuns in Bulacan to design the brochure of the monastery. Together with Fr. Ervite, who was a simply professed friar at that time, we worked together with the project. We were at the monastery for 3 Saturdays from morning to afternoon. In return of our effort and time in helping them they allowed us to choose shirts. In one of the displays, I then saw and attracted to one of the quotations imprinted on the shirt, which says “With you I am a Christian but for you I am a bishop”. It really disturbed me that I want to get it but unfortunately, the sister-in-charge told me “I think that shirt is good to look at if a bishop would wear it. I’m sorry brother. May be you can pick another one.” She said enthusiastically. Consequently, I chose a different t-shirt design.
At the first glance of the quotation on the shirt I was startled by its impact and meaning. I felt and saw at that moment the virtue of humility that stands behind the quotation. I just can’t bear with St. Augustine saying this. Being a bishop, he carries so much power in his hands and yet he was so humble. He was building a rapport with his flock not to an upward movement of love but to a downward movement. In that sort of action he is telling us that no matter what designation of authority we receive at the end we are still human beings or in other words as Christians. In the eyes of God we are equal.
Speaking of the communal aspect of the quotation, it is suggesting a strong implication. Augustine may be have used the Trinitarian concept of our God. Our God is three persons but never as three individual beings but a relational God, wherein they are always in communion with one another. In context with modern-man, I think this calls for a deeper reflection on his part. To be more specific, let me use our Augustinian community. I think Augustine means that no authority could divide our attention in the eyes of God. We may be given responsibility as chairmen of various committees but in the eyes of the formators we are all the same persons undergoing formation. Possessing power may create disparity between the members and chairman but following the example of Augustine we are all the same. On the part of those people who possess power it is their calling to be humble and not abuse their power to create a dispersed community. Let not the authority be the cause of quarrels and misunderstandings of brothers especially if we belong to the same community.
Well, I have to say this, that what I’m writing here is easily said than done. Man cannot do this alone. He needs the grace of God to be able to realize this necessity in building a strong community of God. As I’m reminded by our class in Sacraments.
