April 20, 2010: Daily Homily (Tuesday, 3rd Week Easter-C)

When we open up the newspaper these days, we read 'bad news' about priesthood. When we open up the gospel, however, we read the Good News about the priesthood, especially today. Our Lord talks about himself as the Bread of Life: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” One of the essential gift that Jesus has given us is this Heavenly Bread through the priesthood, especially beginning with the Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper.

When we think of priesthood, we think of it as something human person does, like a job. But, St. Jean Vianney, the patron saint of diocesan priest, says its a gift from Jesus himself.  He says, "The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus." How is that love of Jesus expressed?

St. Jean Vianney says,
"We may say that everything has come to us through the priest; yes, all happiness, all graces, all heavenly gifts. If we had not the Sacrament of Orders, we should not have Our Lord. Who placed Him there, in that tabernacle? It was the priest. Who was it that received your soul, on its entrance into life? The priest. Who nourishes it, to give it strength to make its pilgrimage? The priest. Who will prepare it to appear before God, by washing that soul, for the last time, in the blood of Jesus Christ? The priest--always the priest. And if that soul comes to the point of death, who will raise it up, who will restore it to calmness and peace? Again the priest. You cannot recall one single blessing from God without finding, side by side with this recollection, the image of the priest."

"The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus."