Holy Thursday: Thanksgiving for the Priesthood

Last updated on: December 16, 2015 at 9:09 pm by Father Pablo Migone

Holy Thursday: Thanksgiving for the Priesthood 2015-12-16T21:09:20-05:00 Father Pablo Migone

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For generations throughout the centuries Jewish families have gathered to commemorate the night when God freed them from slavery under pharaoh in Egypt and led them into freedom.

God ordered the Israelites to keep this memorial feast and they have kept it as we heard in the first reading, as a perpetual institution, eating unleavened bread and a roasted lamb.

On a night like tonight, Jesus gathered his disciples to eat this Passover meal, to join in this ancient ritual, which celebrates the freedom of Israel.

On a night like tonight, Jesus provided true food and true blood becoming the new sacrificed Passover lamb. Before giving himself up on the cross, he willingly gave himself up at this very same meal saying “this is my body, this is my blood.”

On a night like tonight, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, giving them an example to follow. God has not only taken upon himself a human nature like ours, but he has come to wash our feet!
All the baptized are called to this ministry of service, yet tonight the liturgy highlights the unique role given to the apostles at the Last Supper and passed on throughout the centuries in the Church: the role of the Priest.

Priests are the presence of Christ loving and serving his people in the darkness of the world.

I remember the first emergency call I responded to as a newly ordained priest. After anointing the dying woman, I went into the church to pray. After ministering to a shocked and distraught family, I was even asking myself, “where were you Lord?” The answer was crystal clear, “I was there, through you.” Focusing so much on myself, I had failed to see Christ at work through the priest; Christ at work through the sacraments of His Church.

This week I went to visit a newborn baby boy at the hospital who was ill. When I arrived to where I thought I’d find the baby, I realized I was at the wrong place. But I wasn’t. There was a family from out of town in the waiting room who approached me and immediately took me to their newborn baby girl. “Father, we feel God has abandoned us,” were the poor mother’s words. I baptized the baby girl and consoled the family.

When and where the darkness is the greatest, the priest brings the light of Christ, dispelling the darkness of the world.

The priest is the mysterious presence of Christ among his people, strengthening us with his grace and filling us with hope.

The priest, united to Christ, lays down his life out of love for Christ and others. The priest seeks and finds the presence of Christ in every person, in every situation, in ever circumstance, no exception.

The priesthood is not a “job” or “career.” The priesthood is a total surrender of oneself out of love.

The priest is aware he is a priest not because of his great abilities or personal merit, but because he has been called by God for a unique role in the Church.

God does not choose the ready, he makes ready the chosen.

The priest goes to wherever he is sent to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ because wherever there are ears to listen, there the Gospel must be preached.

The priest surrenders his whole being to those he serves, not as a master, but as a friend.

The priest is an instrument of unity, aiding those wishing to grow closer to Christ.

The priest is indispensable when it comes to celebrating the sacraments, but a specific priest is never indispensable. The Priesthood of Jesus Christ has existed before any priest alive today and it will continue to exist after every priest alive today is dead.

Tonight we give thanks for the gift of the Priesthood as we accompany Our Lord before entering into his darkest hour, which in turn will fill us with hope and joy.

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