Were we to fully realize what a priest is on earth, we would die: not of fright, but of love…  
“Were we to fully realize what a priest is on earth, we would die: not of fright, but of love… Without the priest, the passion and death of our Lord would be of no avail. It is the priest who continues the work of redemption on earth… What use would be a house filled with gold, were there no one to open its door? The priest holds the key to the treasures of heaven: it is he who opens the door: he is the steward of the good Lord; the administrator of his goods … Leave a parish for twenty years without a priest, and they will end by worshiping the beasts there … The priest is not a priest for himself, he is a priest for you”. – Saint John Vianney,  from an excerpt from A Letter Proclaiming a Year for Priests by Pope Benedict XVI on June 16, 2009
 
Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!
 
Happy Easter! 
 
About a decade ago, the Universal Church at the invitation of the Holy Father – then, Pope Benedict XVI – celebrated a ‘Year for Priests’ on the occasion of the 150 ^th anniversary of the death of Saint John Vianney, the Patron of Priests.  The above quote of Saint John Vianney beautifully summarizes the vocation, the reality, of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ.  In the midst of these Easter Weeks – especially in the light of ‘Good Shepherd Sunday’ – it seems fitting to reflect a bit more directly on the priesthood. 
 
Obviously, the priesthood is a topic close to my heart … often a subject that I think about in the form of rhetorical questions and reflection upon moments of grace that are beyond my understanding: they lead me to re-evaluate my own manner of life, my responsibilities and privileges in relationship to my priorities and efforts, and to contemplate anew my role in life of others, in particular as their Parish Priest.  I suppose, that for each of us these deeper questions and powerful moments enter our hearts as we live within a vocation – as a spouse and parent, a Consecrated Person, or a Priest – because we have entered into a life that is sustained by grace, a chosen life chosen in one sense and, yet, a life that is a gift in its fullness.
 
The first words of this quote by Saint John Vianney set a tone for his understanding of the priesthood – a mysterious gift of God’s Love, an incomprehensible life on earth.  Thus, I have returned to them in prayer often: “Were we to fully realize what a priest is on earth, we would die: not of fright, but of love…” 
 
No doubt, I don’t expect any of you to die for love of me.  If I am a priest that causes you to realize what a priest is, then it would not be me that caused any reaction from you – you would see Christ Jesus, the merciful face of our Heavenly Father, through the incredible Love of God when you interact with me.  In a most humble manner, the manifestation of Priesthood of Jesus Christ is made present through priests.  (Note that the Lord our God is always humble, the Lord invites us to meet him in humility and to follow him in the same virtue.  This is a great lesson for all of us… the Lord who is humble wants us to be humble with him.  If a priest is in the image of ‘Christ the Good Shepherd’ with a life marked by a sincere love of God and neighbor, indeed each and all of us (clergy and laity) would be overwhelmed by the Love of God in meeting that priest.  This lofty vocation is bestowed on sons of the Church through no merit of their own but only because of the abundance and generosity of Divine Love, the Mercy of God (perhaps, we could even use the term absurd – as it the Lord’s giving of this vocation to mere men does not match our earthly standards of being worthy).  If one were to see Christ the Good Shepherd in some aspect of a priest, then in that moment the priest would have fully actualized the grace of the priesthood.  This is why being a good priest is a daily – a moment to moment – effort of every priest, it is not a mere completion of duties or sign of past accomplishments or title given for a noble effort.  Being a good priest is to love God and neighbor, according to the virtues of Christ: a good priest is one who by the grace of the God radiates the fullness of the Truth of Christ, the Crucified and Risen One, in every moment.
 
Please, for me and for all priests: that every priest will be a good priest.
 
 
Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!
 
 
 
Know of my prayers for you, please pray for me!
 
Father Wilke
 
Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us!