"the works of God are to be declared and made known."
REFLECTION
May and June have brought to the Church many new deacons and priests. We thank the Lord for the many gifted servants He sends our way.
Are we attracted to people because of their virtues or because of their personality, money, prestige or being part of the "in crowd"? Do our friends reflect the goodness of the Lord or does their popularity draw us into their inner circle?
It must be hard the first day for a parish priest. New congregation -some as 3000+ families, some parishioners more familiar in the running of the Church. Priests find themselves in new countries, new cultures, and having to adjust their lives to the psychological and social milieu particular to the people they go to serve and be part of the community. (1)
PAPA prays for priests. We bless the Lord for so many responding to the call and we pray for their continued zeal and holiness. The priests are promoted to the service of Christ, devoted to the care of souls, offering sacrifice and forgiving sins.
"The priests are conformed to Christ, the Priest. They act in the Person of Christ. Through this ministry the spiritual sacrifice of the faithful is made perfect in union with the Sacrifice of Christ." (1)
Raphael called the two men aside privately and said to them, "Thank God, give Him the praise and the glory." The works of God are to be declared and made known. We thank God for the priesthood. Thanking Him for every individual priest.
Help make our priests holy by praying for them. Don't judge them and with any disagreements avoid making it personal. Don't gossip or undermine his work. Don't tempt him by your dress or ideas. He was placed in our presence by God to do His work. Our job is to pray for their goodness of heart, constancy of mind, zeal and pursuit of the Lord. Do good and evil will not have its way with us.
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