TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, PRIESTHOOD SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2022

MASS READINGS

A Reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy 1 Tm 6:11-16

But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.

REFLECTION

"Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses."

There are many special days throughout the year honoring fathers, mothers, grandparents, siblings, etc. In 2003, the USA Council of Serra International --whose mission is to honor and foster vocations to the priesthood and religious life--organized the first Priesthood Sunday. In the Old and New Testament there are many referrals to the dignity, importance and holy vocation of priests.

The role of priests is essential to the prosperity of the Church. Priests wear many hats in the Church. The most important is to transform the bread into the Body of Christ, to absolve us of our sins, to marry us, counsel us, guide us and mediate between God and us.

When the priest takes time to talk to us, reprimand us or scold us, he shows us how much he loves us. Some may view it as humiliation or meanness or that he must not like us. But, no, it is as with the love of a good parent, he is there to help us behave, understand what we believe and to show us the road to heaven.

We remember they are human. And, yes, they have flaws as we do, and that is why we pray for them. PAPA prays for our priests daily, we send them birthday greetings, we celebrate with them their ordination anniversaries and we are there to help them with our gifts, our resources, our foods, our friendship and our love. We pray that they don't lie comfortably, eat sumptuously, drink excessively, live in palatial mansions or forget the calling of their vocation.

Pope Francis outlined the 7 pillars of Priesthood:

1. The strength of the priest depends on his relationship to Christ.

2. Just as he must be close to Christ so the priest must be close to the people he serves.

3. A priest's authority must be linked to service, especially to the care and the protection of the poorest, weakest, the least important and most easily forgotten.

4. The priest must be a minister of mercy.

5. The priest is called to simplicity of life.

6. The priest must be a model of integrity.

7. The priest is to be a source of blessing for his people.

Blessed is he who keeps faith forever,

secures justice for the oppressed,

gives food to the hungry.

(Psalm 146).

Hug a priest, thank him for the special times he has helped you. Most important is to pray for him, remembering him daily.

We especially thank all our parish priests, the priests who baptized us, married us and buried our love ones. PAPA thanks Father Michael, spiritual advisor, for his loving care for each and every one of us. May Mother Mary cover all priests with her mantle of intercession.

PONDER. Have you sent a thank you note to a priest, a note of encouragement, or a note filled with your smile?

PRAY: PAPA prays for priests.

God Bless You