All
of us have been called by name. But a priest has a special call. It’s a tough call and a ‘Yes’ is a commitment
for life. It is a life of
sacrifice. Everyone doesn’t get that
call. Everyone who gets the call doesn’t
answer with a ‘Yes’. Who has the courage
to say ‘Yes’?
2. The feast of St John Mary Vianney is
dedicated to the priests. He was
ordained a priest in 1815. He was a
parish priest of a remote place in France, where his reputation as director of
souls made him known throughout Christian World. His preaching and long hours of prayer before
the Blessed Sacraments brought many souls to God. He died on 4th August 1859 at the
age of 73. He was canonised on 31 May,
1925. His feast is celebrated as clergy
day in the Church.
3. The call for Priesthood demands a spirit of
sacrifice, total dedication, commitment to Lord Jesus and obedience. I have two priests in the family. Fr Albert and Fr. Antony Francis. We follow their daily joys and pains. We are proud of them and love them. A priest’s life is not simple. We have learnt the benchmark or measure of
the virtues of subjection and obedience from them. In a ‘tit-for-tat’ society the level of
obedience practiced by the priest is an experience. Commitment to the call and the focus for the
same is also a revelation. No wonder
they are different. My tribute to all
the priests and religious who had the courage to say ‘Yes’ to the Call.
4. We the laity place our priests on a
pedestal. Good, you should. But you should also remember they are human
beings. We cannot prescribe rules for
them. We have no right to criticise them
because they do not come up to our expectations. Remember that it is not you who chose them
but God himself. What can and should be
done by us is to pray for them. In this
world where the devil has his ways, where you and I also play the devil’s
advocate, the only help can be through your prayers.
5. How
many of us feel that a priest is a part of our family? The church provides several opportunities for
us to feel that they are part of us.
There is the collection for seminarians, for the old and retired priests,
the request for prayers, etc. Believe
me, unless you sacrifice you cannot generate love. How many of us call them for a family meal,
how many of us send a goodie to them, how many of us share a special
preparation at home, how many of us wish them their birthdays, how many of us
know of their personal challenges, how many of us know how they cope with
parish challenges, how many of us give them companionship in their times of loneliness. The list is endless. Thanks to our Priests we get charged atleast
once a week, we feel the sense of a community, of being part of a big family
and most of all we feel the presence of God with us.
