Whom God would choose, He marks to be His own. He shares him not; Who chooses God must stand apart, alone: this is his lot. O, not for him the fellowship of men, he knows it not. His only love must be his Lord and God: this is his lot. A man so chosen by His God deserves it not; But God will flood his soul with LOVE- O, joyous lot!
These words were penned by my dear, departed Aunt Patty and given to me on the day of my ordination more than twenty years ago. They will always be true for me and every priest. Today is the feast day of all priests as we remember how Our Blessed Lord instituted the Eucharist and ordained His first bishops to carry on until He returns on the clouds of glory.
In an unbroken stream going back to that night in the upper room, all priests can say that they have been chosen, unworthily, (of course!) but still chosen and ordained by the laying on of hands back to Our Blessed Lord Himself. We are ordained not to ourselves but for others. Whether the priest is active in ministry or wracked on a bed of pain and offering his sufferings in union with Christ, his very life is meant to be a sacrifice for others, for those dear and good souls that need the sacraments and for, in a special way all those who would hate us and deride us! For forgiveness and love is the hallmark of a true Christian.
To this end I have resolved to never criticize or condemn another or to defend myself in any way against any attack. I leave all my defense to Jesus, Who chose to keep silent in the face of lies and treachery and asked only blessing and forgiveness for those who hurt him. Can we do anything less?
Tonight and this weekend all of you are remembered at the altar and I will beg God to bless and help in every way all who have asked me for prayers and all who have hurt me and all who have no one to pray for them. Remember that God really loves you and that He knows what He is about. If you are about Him, all will be well, even if it doesn’t seem like it. Such is the mystery of being a believer.
This most holy night I ask all of you to remember something that is rarely talked about: The fact that not only was Our Lord betrayed but He was also a prisoner. Think of Him alone in his cell, awaiting the crucifixion the next day. Pray for all prisoners, especially those that are suffering for the Faith and for all the innocent that are confined. Pray for their families, as Our Blessed Mother was the Mother of The Prisoner of all time! The Prisoner who made Himself the Prisoner of Love in the Blessed Sacrament where He subjects Himself to men through the centuries, till He come again. What love is this, that brought the King of Bliss to suffer at our hands that we not miss…?
Bless you all!
Fr. Jamie
