PRIESTHOOD
It was on this day (Maundy
Thursday) that Jesus had instituted the Holy Eucharist and the Priesthood.
Priesthood is a privilege given to certain people on earth. They are chosen
generation. When they exercise their priestly ministry, they are not of this
world or normal human beings but of eternal world and represent Christ amidst
us. The priest holds the powers of Christ to forgive sins, cast the devils,
heal the sick and even commands the angels. It is said that for all of us the
Guardian angel goes in front of us but for the priest the Guardian angel goes
behind him. Despite being a normal human being priest represents Christ to us
whom the angles bow down.
The apostles were the first
priests. Jesus commissioned them to be servants and continue his work on earth
and gave them the power that he had received from His Father. "You are a
priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek" (Heb 7:17). The
priest is anointed forever as a minister of Christ. Through the sacrament of
Confession he saves the souls. When he dies he doesn’t enter heaven alone
rather, he takes good number of souls along with him to heaven. He is saved by
saving the others.
It is in the hands of the priest
that the small host transforms into the body of Christ. St. John Paul II says,
“It is in that small host lies the solution for all the problems in the world.”
When priest celebrates the mass he shares the priesthood of Christ, the high
priest. Mercy which became flesh two thousand years ago still continues to
become flesh in the form of host that is in the hands of priest. Mother Mary was
blessed to carry the Face of Mercy (Christ) in her womb. Today, priests are
blessed to bring that mercy again into this world. They share the salvific work
of Christ. It is a mystery that cannot be comprehended. On this day as we
celebrate the birthday of Priesthood let us pray for all the priests in the
world that they may understand the power and mystery that they hold and work
for the salvation of the souls.
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