Enter the Kingdom of your God

Interesting how the Lord, God, seems to call certain men into the Sacramental Priesthood especially at a time when very few will answer the call. We do find that there are more mature men responding to the needs of the world where so many have hidden the urging to follow Christ since the path is not filled with comfort and peace. For those who have chosen to become disciples of Christ will certainly learn just what sacrifice is all about.

When Jesus confronted the Woman at the Well he was very direct in what it will take to follow him; “Everyone who drinks this water will still be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (Jn 4: 13 - 14). This water is the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

These words to the woman are more than just a refreshment from the heat of the day. John uses scripture like this to point out that following the Son of Man is a whole new way of answering the call to follow him. The second excerpt that calls disciples to leave the wealth of the world and follow him is found in Matthew; “Again I say to you, it will be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mt 19: 24). Giving up money is easy when the real wealth is saving a soul.

Giving up the attractions of the secular world where so much is geared to attract men away from God and the requirements that must be adhered with to focus on God’s will and the ministry of forgiveness that is the answer to this call. Keep in mind the Sacraments of forgiveness are found in more than Reconciliation and Healing of the Sick. When the priest elevates the Sacred species of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Christ of God, it is the total act of forgiveness. Priesthood is God’s answer to divine mercy and nowhere else is this found in any other ministers or preachers. Try as they might, all except the Catholic Priests do not have Apostolic Succession and being part of this sacred hands-on ordination is not a prize but an answer to God who wishes to expand his kingdom, sacramentally.

Priests give up so much that most people are not even called to enter this fraternity of dedicated souls as a response to show God they heard him calling in the night and answered with; “Here I am Lord; Send me.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” “Here I am;” I said: :send me!” And he replied: “Go and say to this people”.... (Is 7: 8- 9).

The call is there and you might be one who is hearing it in your heart. Try the challenge; you may be next on the altar of sacrifice bringing souls to Christ as a priest!

Ralph B. Hathaway