Priests: Real People --- Real People: Priests

30th Sunday of Ordinary Time

This Sunday, the second reading will be from Hebrews 5:1-6, but definitely read the other readings for context.

Newsflash, guys: Did you know that priests are real people? People that eat pizza, and like football, and even have families with weirdo kid brothers and evil sisters.


Priests are called out from ordinary families, with ordinary troubles, and so they understand the temptations that beset us as part of family life, because they, too, came from families. In just this way, Aaron was called out of an ordinary Jewish family in Egypt to become Israel’s high priest. He was able to deal patiently with those he served -- with the ignorant and erring -- because he, too, had to struggle with the same temptations.

Just as priests are called out of their families to service in the ordained priesthood, we, too - all believers - are called out of the world and into the service of Christ and his kingdom.

We are called to service in the kingdom -- to be in the world, but not of the world. To change the world, not be changed by it. To be saints who wear blue jeans, drink CocaCola, go to the movies, and hang out with friends.

And ordained deacons, priests, and bishops, are called to be our leaders. A tall order, to be sure, for those on whom the responsibility to lead is placed. They are ordinary people, with both ordinary troubles and extraordinary troubles.

All Christians are called to service. In what way has Christ called you?

Some service looks big (such as missionary work). Some ways of service can seem small (such as a particular prayer focus - like respect for life, or for the reunion of all christians, or the Pope’s intentions), and some look big until they are made small (Mother Teresa said of her work with the poor of Calcutta that she could only love one person at a time, and so she did).

All are called to some kind of service. To what has the Lord called you?



Let’s Pray:

Lord God,
Please reveal to us the service that you desire for us in your kingdom. Let it be that we have a real hunger to serve in the particular way that you intend, rather than in some other way, and let us fill the role of your intention with great joy and zeal.

Amen

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