One of the more striking commercials from the Super Bowl was ‘The Farmer’ by Dodge, featuring a speech given by Paul Harvey to the 1978 Future Farmers of America Convention.  I riffed it this morning for the priesthood:

So Jesus Called the Priest

And as He Ascended, Jesus looked down at His nascent Church and said, “I need a caretaker.” So Jesus called the Priest.

Jesus said, “I need to still be present to guide the lost; to organize the community; to build my Kingdom; to comfort those who sorrow; to encourage others to greatness in My Name; to shepherd My people.”  So Jesus called the Priest.

Jesus said, “I need to continue to teach and instruct, to form children in the ways of Truth; to guide academics in the mysteries of the universe I have shaped; to challenge governments to respect the order of creation; to preserve the integrity of my teaching; to pass along my teachings in the Scriptures; to respond to new questions with timeless answers.”  So Jesus called the Priest.

Jesus said, “I need to baptize children into My Name; to strengthen my disciples as soldiers of My Name; to give My Precious Body and Blood to nourish my people; to forgive their sins; to anoint the weak; to witness my love shining in the love of a married couple, to call others to take up the mantle of the Cross.”  So Jesus called the Priest.

It had to be someone who would be a sign of contradiction in this world.  Somebody who dwells here, but has his face set towards heaven.  Someone who would comfort the afflicted, but afflict those who are too comforted.  Someone who would embrace a life of sacrifice so that others might live.  Someone who can share a laugh with a friend and quick embrace with the stranger.  Someone who would be a father to all but a dad to none.  Someone who reject the pleasures of this world to show the glory of the life to come.  Someone who recognizes that, “Jesus called the Priest.”

3 Responses to So Jesus Called the Priest

1. JoAnne Lacey says:

   February 8, 2013 at 4:46 pm

   LOVE IT!!! Perfectly written!

2. John Stegeman says:

   February 8, 2013 at 5:03 pm

   Well said, and thank you to you and all our priests.

3. Pingback: So God made a Pope | Catholic Telegraph