09/29/2005
Vocation
Vocation
To be a priest today is to be a midwife to most of the profound aspects of human existence. Sacramental life embraces many of the most definitive moments of one’s life. Baptism welcomes the new born into the world and the Church and Christian community. Funerals, Marriages, Ordination and Anointing the sick all have the signification at moments of change. A Priest is a vital and important leader in the community to guide the faithful and be a sign of the presence of hope, of the presence of God and the kingdom by being another Christ acting in the person of Christ. A Priest is there to santify others through service and to teach the faithful. Priest work through the obedience of their Bishop being at service to the local Church. The hierarchy of the Church ensures its direction and effectiveness as an institution. By giving one’s life to God through ordination, the Gospel can be heard, the imprisoned can be visited and the lonely can be made conforted. By the self giving of a priest one hopes that faith, hope and love may be the fruits of sacerdotal ministry.
God ensures us that we all have our vocation in life, in some potential productivity in the world. The Second Vatican council acknowledge the universal call to holiness heard by all the faithful and God has great plans for every one of us should we choose to co-operate with him. Jesus told us that we were chosen by him, not in any predestinarian way, but one must felt called to the life of a priest. He told us that there were few laborers in the vineyard and one needed to pray to send more labourers into the vineyard. Priests need to be perfect, to aspire to the greatest holiness and to an intimacy with God. Being a priest means being a man for others, serving and fulfilling the will of the Lord in the world today. St Ignatius said, receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, my entire will, all that I possess. You have given it all to me; to you, O Lord, now I return it; all is yours, dispose of me wholly according to your will. Give me only your love and grace, for that is enough for me.” Such self giving ensures that holiness of many.
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Brilliant!
Posted by: chris vipers | 10/26/2005
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