the priesthood is not my choice - 2nd week monday 2015

Today we continue reading from the letter to the Hebrews.  Today it talks about the priesthood – specifically the priesthood of Jesus and by implication our own priesthood.

No one takes this honor upon himself.  The priesthood is not my choice.  It is God’s choice.  And it can only be said as my choice because I choose what God chooses for me.  In the ordination to the priesthood if you can remember the people clap their hands when the bishop says we choose this man our brother for the order of priest.  The clapping is not for you.  It is for the bishop who chose you and his choice is confirmed by the people who recognized that choice by clapping their hands.  So the clapping is not to congratulate the new priest.  It is as if the people are saying, good choice bishop because we also choose him.  My point here is , the priesthood is a gift.  It is something given to you.  Kon ara thank you, kon wala thank you.  Your stay here is primarily to learn to recognize whether you are called or not.  And we are helping you do that.

The second point is this you are chosen from among men.  You are human and not an angel, therefore you will understand your fellow human beings – you understand their weakness, you understand their strength, you know where they are tempted because you are human.  Because of this the letter to the Hebrews says you can be compassionate and merciful.   
At the same time you are taken from among men.  You are consecrated, you are separated in a way, you are different.  Even if you live among the people you are set apart so that you could completely offer yourself to the work of God.  Wala ka ya pamilya kag kabataan nga gina-asikaso, wala ikaw negosyo nga ginaprokurar, wala ka ya political affiliation kay pari ka – ginahalad mo ang imo bug-os nga ikasarang para sa Dios. 

Kinahanglan balansehon mo ini because when you learn to balance these, then you will begin to see the magic that is Pope Francis.  He knows human feelings, he can very well relate with these and yet he knew when to stop, to distance and to cut things.  Pope Francis is not just a good pope.  He is a good priest.