PURE GRACE

PURE GRACE

Priesthood is both a gift and a task. You can ask any priest and he will tell you how unworthy he is of the gift. Priesthood is pure grace from God. Saint Vianney, patron saint of priests, whose feast we celebrate today, was ordained because his bishop believed it was God’s will for him to be a priest despite his poor academic standing.

To be a priest is to be available at all times. However, priests do need rest and time for prayers. We do not become robots after ordination. On the contrary, ordination makes us more human and, thus, more susceptible to stress, fatigue, temptations, etc. Once, a parishioner came for a sick call after my early morning Mass. I went and, as soon as I returned to the parish, another sick call was waiting. I was tired and had not taken breakfast yet, but I had to go. The dying needs the sacrament. But priests do not only administer sacraments. We also have administrative tasks. We make decisions—hundreds of them every day. And on certain days like Sundays, we have more Masses, baptisms, and ministry meetings.

Priests appear to be supermen to the faithful, but we also get sick and tired, forget, commit mistakes, become hotheaded, not know everything, etc. Priests try to be available and effective, but we are just limited. It will be good if priests accept that. It will be even better if parishioners realize that, too.

In behalf of my brother priests, I ask forgiveness and understanding from those we have hurt, misled, or offended. Help us deal with our weaknesses by praying for us and constructively criticizing us. We are also in constant conversion and in need of salvation. But be assured that, no matter what, the sacraments and disposal of our ministries are never affected and diminished by our weaknesses. The Church and the Lord Jesus guarantee that. The graces of God are received in full and unblemished even by our unworthiness as priests. Pray for us always. If God chose us to be His priests, we should learn to follow His will. Fr. Benny Tuazon

----------- REFLECTION QUESTION -----------

How do you regard our priests? Say a prayer for the priests whom you know.

I pray for Your priests, Lord. Protect them and embrace them in moments of weaknesses. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________