Kingdom Revelator – Issue 41
Welcome to Kingdom Revelator. We pray that as you read this magazine your faith will be increased and that the Holy Spirit, the gift of God, which is in you, will be fanned into a flame (2 Timothy 1:6).
Recently, I have felt called to pray for priests. For an increase in vocations to the priesthood but more especially for those who are already ordained. These holy men have given up their lives to serve us and they need our love and prayers.
I imagine that being a parish priest can sometimes be a lonely life, and at other times very demanding. Having a large parish family to look after and minister to, responsibility for looking after the buildings and staff, never
knowing who will turn up at your door needing help or what the next phone call will involve must be very stressful.
Coming from a large family I know how difficult it is to keep the peace and harmony in a large group of people. It must be even more difficult trying to keep all the parish family happy. Anyone who has experienced changes to the Mass times, moving the choir to different seats or even just moving the lectern from one side of the altar to the other will know that it will not suit everyone in the parish and it is usually the priest who is held responsible for any ‘bad’ decisions. He has the tricky job of balancing the opinions of his parishioners and making the right choices that will benefit most people. It is not an easy task.
Of course being a priest has many rewards. It must be incredibly satisfying to know that you have made a difference to so many people’s lives. Helping others through their most difficult times, enabling them to enjoy a new life in Christ through Baptism, being a minister of God’s mercy and forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, helping them to deepen their faith and trust in God and ensured that it will be passed on to future generations. The priest knows that he has been chosen by the Lord as a special instrument of His grace and he has been given the privilege of making Christ present to His believers. There can be no greater honour in this life than to stand at the altar in the power and place of Jesus and say, “This is My Body…”, “This is My Blood…”
So let us pray for our priests for wisdom and guidance and let us show them that they are appreciated, loved and cared for.