Reflections on the Priesthood (10)

By "Anne," A Lay Apostle

God's Kingdom comes and rejoicing is in order.

Each priest must look honestly into his soul. In his soul, he will find the eyes of Christ. When one meets the divine gaze, one is strengthened and confirmed in service. A priest makes a commitment to an Invisible Reality, that is, Jesus Christ truly present in his ministry. Well, it is abundantly clear then that Jesus Christ must be allowed to be truly present in the ministry of each priest.

Fathers, increase your prayer time. Nourish your prayer life. Scrutinize your personal relationship with the Lord because it is only through this relationship that rejoicing can occur.

Rejoice. Proclaim.

The priest must connect himself to Jesus Christ and rejoice in the Lord's presence. We are called to bring Good News, not bad news. The world brings bad news to God's children in a steady flow. We, who are called to be different, must accept personally that God has not left us and that God has a need for fidelity in this time as He does in every other time.

We will move from an Age of Disobedience to an Age of Obedience and we will do this through one person at a time.

God's beloved priests will set an example of obedience, both in thought and action.

When one is being attacked unjustly, there is a temptation to respond in a defensive way, with anger. This is human nature. We, as followers of Christ, must reject our human nature and respond with God's divine nature. We must try to rest in God's truth, refusing to become discouraged by the fact that falseness appears to abound. The first apostles were consistently persecuted.

"We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed; always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body" (Corinthians 4:8-10).

Yes, it is clear that the early apostles struggled. It is also clear, though, that they expected no less. They understood that if they were called to follow Jesus they would be treated like Jesus, whose experience included mockery and anguish.

"So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ" (Acts 5:41-42).

The priesthood is being attacked in this time, both directly and indirectly. There is no shortage of ignorance from those who seek to avoid God's will in their own lives. In many areas, this has created for priests an atmosphere where it is difficult to rejoice and proclaim.

Beloved Fathers of God's children, the enemy offers shame and bitterness from this purification, it is true. But at the same time, God offers humility and gentleness. We are not bound to accept the ugly fruits of the enemy's efforts. We can reject despair and feelings of futility.

We are bound instead to accept the bountiful fruits of the renewal. If we do so, we will never be trapped in helplessness by the shocking pain of the sins committed by the few.

We must rejoice in God's presence and allow the Lord to bring healing and renewal to each of us personally. Jesus will do this for each of us. Truly, I am certain that each priest will experience a burst of joy if He asks for it.

This renewal, this commitment to personal transformation will produce humility and great heavenly calm. Christ will possess each priestly vocation to a degree that will delight each priest, creating an invulnerable protection against the temptations of the times.

For further information regarding the Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King, or to purchase Heaven Speaks booklets, please contact Direction for Our Times on the Web at www.directionforourtimes.com , or mail inquiries to the following address: 9000 West 81st St., Justice, IL  60458, U.S.A.