Homily for 31st Sun OT, Year A
Fr. Albert
St Peters, New Iberia
What makes a good priest? It’s a worthwhile question because today is the start of National Vocation Awareness week. It’s a time to focus on the Church’s need for more priests and religious. So, pray for more vocations. Ask God if he is calling you to one of these states of life. Ask your children or friends to ask God for his guidance in deciding their future. If you genuinely think someone might be a good priest, nun, sister, or brother, tell them. Then, be supportive of those who are discerning God’s call.
Still, I get that it’s not an easy decision to make. I’ve been there. Not that fear is the right motive, but our first reading has some strong words for bad priests, so it’s not a decision to be taken lightly. If we’re praying for more of them, it’s worth asking: what makes a good priest?
Since priests are such public people, some will assume you have to be extroverted or be a very social person. Others focus in on the public speaking and fear of public speaking is one of the most common fears in the world. But, that’s not a good reason to say no to God’s call. The fact is that many great priests are introverted or even shy, but are still good priests. We are called to be servants, not socialites.
A good priest doesn’t have to rely on his own charm or talent. Almost every prophet, including Moses, was afraid to speak publicly and to lead people. But God’s response is almost always the same “I will give you the words you are to speak.” St. Paul says this “in receiving the word of God from us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God.” A good priest doesn’t rely on his own thoughts and creativity. All the public speaking we do is to take the Word of God and hand it on. Not to mention we have plenty of training and practice first. What matters most is fidelity – being faithful to the word of God.
Actually, that’s what the prophet Malachi is talking about. The problem isn’t that these priests aren’t smart enough, that they’re not funny enough or likeable enough. There are two things that make these Levitical Priests bad priests: being unfaithful and being unfair. Good priests don’t all have the same personality type or style, but they are all faithful. A good priest doesn’t go with the flow or tell people what they want to hear. They simply hand on the Truth as God has given us.
So, a good priest is also impartial and fair. There are a thousand things going on in a parish and the pastor has to consider the big picture in his decisions. That might sound like bad news, but what it means is that God doesn’t expect priests to play politics or follow the crowd. Again, it is about fidelity – being faithful to the truth, to God and His Church. In other words, being a good priest doesn’t mean you need to be able to solve every problem or keep everyone happy. Seek the truth. Teach the truth. Make decisions based on the truth.
And let’s be honest, the truth can often feel like a burden. Jesus knows this. But, the truth is so important that he outright tells his disciples to be obedient even to hypocritical leaders. Why? Because they have real authority and what they teach is true, even if they don’t practice it. Of course, a good priest – a good anything – is not a hypocrite. And what about the “heavy burdens” that the Scribes and Pharisees put on others? Following God’s law. Avoiding sin. Jesus never says they shouldn’t place these burdens – Christianity is actually more demanding that Judaism. No, what he criticizes is that they don’t follow their own laws and that “they will not lift a finger to move” the burdens they place on other people.
Putting money in the collection when it hurts. Following the rules about communion. Going to confession. Getting married and buried in the Church. Practicing chastity and purity. All of these can feel like heavy burdens at times, and sometimes they really are quite difficult. So, what does a good priest do? Bend the rules? No, he tries to follow them himself and he helps others follow them too. Accompaniment. Prayer. Counseling. Sometimes even financial support. Good priests are willing to offer some of these to those who struggle to lift their heavy burdens, to carry their crosses, to follow the Gospel.
It is about service. Being a priest is not about becoming important, chasing after honor and respect. That’s why Jesus uses this hyperbole with titles. No, he isn’t literally forbidding us to use the words “master,” “teacher,” or “father.” Jesus uses these words. The Apostles use these words. St. Paul even calls himself a father in the bible. It’s about the attitude a disciple is supposed to have. It’s about the attitude a priest is supposed to have. The world chases power and importance. Christians, and especially priests and religious, are supposed to chase after opportunities to serve and love one another
And that’s ultimately what makes a good priest or religious. Authentic love. The kind of love that wants what’s best for another person and consistently works toward that good. And we already know what’s best for every human being. Jesus Christ. A good priest is faithful to this mission above all else. St. Paul says it in his letter to the Thessalonians, “we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well.
And that might be the best news of all. Good priests give the gospel and they give themselves. They don’t give people a false image. They don’t try to be some other person. Whatever your personality. Whatever your own particular gifts and weaknesses, you give that. Not every priest can be Padre Pio. Not every priest can or should be Fr. Albert or Fr. Blanda. In fact, we don’t want or need more identical copies and it’s wrong to expect priests to be someone they’re not. If God is calling you to be a priest – and he is calling someone from this parish – if he is calling you to the priesthood or to the religious life, He is calling you to be your best self, not someone else.
In the end, so much of what makes a good priest is what makes a good Christian. Start with being a good disciple. Be faithful to the word of God. Live according to that word in love. Give that word to others. Give yourself in service to others.
And this week, do that by supporting vocations. Pray. Ask God to call more people to priesthood and religious life. Pray for me, for Fr. Blanda, Sr. Mary Peter and Sr. Mary Magdalene. Encourage young men to consider the priesthood. Encourage young men and women to consider a life especially dedicated to God as a sister or brother. And of course, pray for yourself. Sit in silence and ask God to help you recognize and live your own vocation. Do that as often as you can. I promise you, His plan is much better than yours.
