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Meditation
What a gift to us the priesthood is!
As I read the first reading for today I was struck by how very blessed we are to be recipients of the amazing power of the priesthood.
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly,
to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
and release to the prisoners,
To announce a year of favor from the LORD
and a day of vindication by our God,
to comfort all who mourn;
To place on those who mourn in Zion
a diadem instead of ashes,
To give them oil of gladness in place of mourning,
a glorious mantle instead of a listless spirit.
It is as if this reading was written for those of us who have had an abortion. Brokenhearted, captives, prisoners of our own sinfulness. Comfort for those who mourn and gladness in its place.
I have been very blessed over the years to minister alongside many amazing priests who have selflessly given themselves in order to ease the burden of those in despair, or free those held down by obsession. I have watched as they touched hearts through their words and ministered our precious sacraments to instill the grace of God into those who are repentant. I have witnessed more miracles of God’s mercy then I can count through the hands of our priests.
Each day I pray for our clergy, some by name, but for all of them. Those who are good, and those who struggle. Those who are faithful and those who stray. What a mighty responsibility the gift of the priesthood is. A dying constantly to “self” in order to be Christ to others, only by His grace!.
How grateful I am for the gift of the Eucharist, the summit of our faith through the priesthood given by Jesus on Holy Thursday.
May we each day lift our priests up in prayer, that they may empty themselves by His graces and always be safely held under the mantle of Our Lady!