Priest: profession or vocation

Dear friend today I want to involve you in a meditation different from those done so far. In these days we have talked about life, destiny, God, Christmas and many things that involve our life. Now I want to discuss a role loved and contrasted at the same time: the priest.

My friend, if we see the role of the priest that instituted two thousand years ago by Jesus, we can only say that they are chosen by God to administer the gifts of God and the mysteries of faith. The apostles and early Christians depicting the priests instituted by Jesus transpire faith, martyrdom, sacrifice, true shepherds of a flock entrusted by God. The first apostles who died for Jesus, spreaders of his word, martyrs, poor people, pilgrims, missionaries.

Today some use this role as a real job. Luxury cars, money in the bank, designer clothes, banquets, real managers of a company called the Church, with a difference, who do not pay taxes. They put tariffs at Masses as if they were different from one another. In fact, the wedding Mass costs more than that of the suffrage. But isn't Christ's sacrifice always the same?

Not to mention those priests who make a career and also take degrees in the Church and live in luxurious buildings assisted by women of service, driver, gardener, messenger, waiter. Some also get lost in amusements, lusts and not to say pedophilia and money making systems.

Among these that I say, I think of all those priests who make Christ's teaching alive who live on mission in poor countries, assist children, are excellent spiritual fathers, pray, love the faithful. My thanks go to these priests, my closeness, my saying that thanks to them the person of Jesus is still present among us.

So is the priest a profession or a vocation? I want to answer this question with an episode of the mystical Natuzza Evolo. A girl who wanted to become a nun went to Natuzza to ask for advice. Natuzza asked her "why do you want to become a nun?" The girl replied "I want to be a saint" the mystic replied "I can assure you that in Heaven there are more mothers than nuns".

So what about the role of priests? We can respond by saying that the priest is only a role and whoever plays it is no longer prepared and holy than the others. But he is chosen by God in that role to manage his mysteries then holiness and something that concerns the growth and the spiritual path that every man can do according to the role he plays in his life.

I turn my last thoughts to those priests who manage this role lightly. You are free to do so but make the faithful understand that your doing coincides with the Church that Jesus Christ bought himself at a high price by dying on the Cross for all. You are free to do what you want but at least be real men in sharing your things with the sacrifice of Christ.

To those faithful who are attentive to what priests do I want to say that their person and their role should not be taken into consideration but we must all have as an example the teaching and sacrifice of Christ, he is the true head of the Church and not the priests. It is a bit like saying when a policeman steals, he cannot condemn the entire body of the police who play an important role and respect for all citizens but only the single policeman who has not been able to reflect his real task is to be criticized.

Written by Paolo Tescione