A priest must be holy, deeply holy. One can see through his transparent holiness. None can put on a garb of holiness if he is not truly holy. None can pretend to be holy, it is a quality that glows in the face that breathes out in is words, flows out in his actions and in his very mannerisms. Jesus is holy. His Divinity flowed in every word and action. A priest is anointed. He is special. He is set apart. Every move he makes is exemplary for his flock. We look up to a holy priest. Not only do we respect a holy priest but we revere him as well. He is like a pole star to the parishioners.
A priest must be steeped in the knowledge of the “Word of God”. He must never speak about the Scriptures or quote a Scripture verse without deeply studying it. He must read, interpret and explain God’s Word in relation to our modern times and needs. Scripture can be used frequently to help a broken person; it can bring alive so many truths unknown to the simple common man. He must be able to convince me that, indeed the Word of God is the source of our strength and our being. My priest must be able to urge me to grow in a love-relationship with God through this ‘Word’.
My priests will be gentle and compassionate because he is Jesus for me. He must be my good shepherd and so available to me at all times especially, when I am down and out. There are many charismatic lay people thus available, why not an anointed priest? He must be approachable. We do understand that a priest is a human being and will have his own difficulties. Yet in spite of these odds, the priest remains the hub and the centre of Christian life. The priest is often the best mediator, comforter, advisor, counselor, doctor and a friend to a needy person. I remember a priest who gave his lunch to a poor needy person and fasted that day, because having taken a vow of poverty he had no money to give. It is far from true, that the priesthood has lost its importance in this hi-tech age. The so called jet age has brought in its wake too many problems that need delicate handling which only a sensitive and a considerate clergy can do. Availability of a priest to the parishioner is a major factor that builds up community and a Christian’s love for his Church, and his relationship with his Creator.
When I look at a soldier in civilian clothes, I respect him for what he is. But a soldier in military uniform commands a different kind of awe and reverence for me. We love our priests just as they are but the cassock keeps them apart and is a constant reminder to us about their great sacrifice. A uniformed soldier is a symbol of patriotism and love for his country; a uniformed priest is a symbol of spirituality and love for God. I would like to see my priest, more often in his cassock. While his civilian dress enables me to move closer to him, the cassock makes me step back to tell me that he is God’s instrument and does not belong to any one person but all in general.
My priest must live in unity and brotherhood in the church precincts. If forgiveness is the keynote of Jesus’ teachings, then my priest as his chosen anointed one must be able to get along with different kinds of colleagues as well as parishioners. Seeing him forgive, forget and adjust, makes me do the same. It is an ennobling experience to see Jesus everyday in the garb of a wonderful priest. Jesus loved the poor, the simple, the broken-hearted, the orphan, the widow and the outcast. He sees these crumbs of society, that one is used to flick away as one flicks away the crumbs that fall on one‘s person after eating, as crumbs of the sacred species that fall from theMaster’s table. If every ordained priest brought a whiff of fragrance into the lives of these unfortunates, how different the world would be! One might argue that vocations are dwindling, there aren’t sufficient priests to cater to all. We may have a counter question. Why? Why is the call to the priesthood not attractive to our young? Perhaps they don’t see any challenge in the life of our priests that would attract them as to the army or navy!
Parental pressures, population control, smaller families, the glitter of the world around us, are factors that deter and obstruct vocations. However a priest with good examples is the most significant motivating factor for more vocations. Today we live in a complex world with so many schisms within and without. Different rites, different cultural backgrounds, desire to have money, power and control are all factors that are shaking the foundation of the Church, directing the flock in Church laws and ethics, keeping the parishioners informed about changing concepts is the responsibility of every priest.
Today consumerism and commercialism have stepped into the Church. We sell ‘Jesus’ for a price. Jesus says, ‘You have received freely, therefore give freely”. Yet monetary considerations have sprung all over the Church. Money is necessary, but it should be the last priority. Wealth obtained by the Church must be transparently used for the good of the poor and the needy. We ought to teach our parishioners to trust God rather than man. A parish had a debt of 11 lakhs, and they started a night vigil and 200 parishioners came regularly ever third Saturday. The slogan was, “if you cannot pay, than come and pray’. Within six months, a lady who was attending to ask God to settle her property matter. The matter was settled and she was to get 41 lakhs but she got 52 lakhs and gave the Church the 11 lakhs to clear the debt. God answers our prayers in mysterious ways.
My priest should be conversant with all the trends of the Church. He must be bold and able to take a stand in the face of a crisis. He must fight for truth and justice – not a very comfortable idea. He must take quick and stern decisions when required. He must never compromise on values dear to Jesus. He must be practical and flexible where human needs supersede rules and regulations, just as Jesus did. His disciplined life should be the watchword for us parishioners.
Even as we lay down high ideals and expectations for our priests, we want to remember how invaluable a priest is for us. We want to remember the extreme sacrifice a priest makes when he answers the call of the Master. We know the sacrifice that the family of a priest makes when it gives up a precious son to serve God. We know that a priest’s life is not a bed of roses but a long life of sacrifice and self-giving often going hand in hand with ingratitude. A soldier in the army leaves his home and family to serve the country but he continues to enjoy his personal freedom, a happy social life and close family links. Promotions and monetary inducements and incentives come his way often.
For a priest his vows of obedience, poverty and chastity make him forfeit all earthly gains. He has to make a whole lot of adjustments and this is especially so when the priest is brilliant and has seen the best things in life. Very often this is indeed the case. In such a situation his life as a priest is a greater challenge. This selfless servant belongs only to God and yet has to serve man. He belongs to all and yet to none. His relationship, his every motives is determined by the hierarchy,
“Theirs not to reason why, theirs not to make reply”, is more relevant to a priest than to a soldier in the army.
A Priest’s duty time is not 8 hours; it is 24 hours, not 6 days but 7 days of the week and 365 days of the year. Here is a beautiful passage on priests which I came across:
A priest is always wrong because……………….
If he begins his Mass on time, his watch is fast.
If he begins a little later, he keeps people waiting.
If he preaches too long, he makes people bored,
If his homily is short, he is unprepared.
If he owns a car, he is luxurious,
If he does not own one, he does not go with the times.
If he goes out to visit families, he is always out,
If he does not, he has no time for them.
If he asks for a donation, he is a money maker,
If he does not ask for one, he is too proud and lazy.
If he takes time in the confessional, he is too slow,
If he makes it fast, he has no time for his penitents.
If he renovates the church, he throws away money,
If he does not do it, he lets everything to rot away.
If he is with the old ones , his old fashioned,
If he is with the youth, he is forgets the old.
If he is seen with the women, he is a playboy,
If he goes with the men, he is a …….
If he is young , he has no experience,
If he is old, he should retire.
As long as he lives, there are always people
Who are better than him.
BUT IF A PRIEST DIES ….THERE IS NOBODY TO TAKE HIS PLACE!!
Mr. Alphonso D’sa
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