Today, the fourth Sunday of Easter, is traditionally known as “Good Shepherd Sunday”. We pray for Priests and vocations to Priesthood.
What is the “raison d’être”of a Priest?
Who are we Priests?
Are we ‘special’?
Every vocation is born of love of predilection. As for every person,
God has called us, Priests, to be His children.
Among His children,
God has entrusted a particular task to us, Priests, which brings us closer to Him:
giving ourselves for others.
‘Others’ are our reason for being, the objective of our love, since in them we fulfil this service that the Lord asks of us.
The existence of a Priest is a ‘pro-existence’, his being is a ‘being for’, his life is a ‘Eucharistic prayer’. But how?
In the first place with prayer, presenting every concrete situation to God: “Lord, he (she) whom you love is suffering”.
Secondly, with the oblative offering of all of our being. When Jesus says, “Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?”, He is not seeking a merely theoretical willingness to martyrdom, but a radical acceptance of the fact that we are here to do His will and to renounce our own. Our studies, our work and our rest, every decision, both vital and daily, everything is in keeping with this service.
Thirdly, with humility, knowing that Priests are on a journey, in need of that prayer, even more than those we have been called to serve. We Priests should not underestimate the power of intercession of those whom God has placed in our way: our Bishops and formators, companion priests, families, friends, our communities and our parishes.
Do not forget to pray for your Priests, and for me!
