SIMBANG GABI 2017 3
YEAR OF THE CLERGY AND
CONSECRATED PERSONS
DECEMBER 18, 2017
Jesus, I trust in you!
“Live with me and be my father and
my priest!” (Judges 17: 10)
Definitely St. Joseph was not the
biological father of Jesus. The Gospel reading was clear: “Mary was betrothed
to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the
Holy Spirit.” To allay doubts of the involvement of a third party, through a
dream, the angel assured Joseph: “Do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into
your home, for it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been
conceived.” However, even though he was not the biological father, St. Joseph
was entrusted with the responsibility of being a father to God’s only Son. “You
are to name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.”
Although Jesus did not come from his loins, he was still called “father” by our
Lord. When the child Jesus was found in the temple, our Lady said to him, “Your
father and I have been distressed looking for you.”
Is it not strange that on account
of the discipline of celibacy, the priest has no biological children of his own
and yet he is called “Father” by so many people. In the parish, I am even
amused by the fact that people older than me still call me “Father.” Many still
call me “father” even without knowing my name. I left the possibility to have a
wife and children of my own and yet turned out to be father to so many
people…so much more than I could ever beget for myself.
Why do Catholics call priests
“father”? Christ is the true priest of the New Testament. As the first-born
sons were the priests before the Levitical priesthood, so Christ, who is the
first-born of all creation, is the priest of the new covenant. As the
first-born is a fatherly relationship with his brothers, so Christ, the
first-born, exercises a fatherly role with all of us.
All priests of the New Covenant
pattern themselves after Jesus. They share in the priesthood of Christ. Thus,
St. Paul says: “I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to
admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in
Christ, you do not have many fathers. I became your father in Christ Jesus
through the gospel.” (1 Cor. 4:14-15) The
fatherhood of priests is a spiritual fatherhood. Fatherhood is a life-giving
task. Through Baptism, the priest brings about the rebirth of the children of
God. In the Eucharist, the priest provides the Bread of life for his spiritual
children. In Confession, the priest forgives sins and restores the penitent to
the communion of the family of God. In the Anointing of the sick, the priest
provides consolation and strength in times of bodily weakness. Acting in the
person of Christ, the priest becomes the first-born son, and therefore, he
exercises a fatherly role towards his brethren. He does not replace the one
Father of all. Rather, he has been handed a share in the Fatherly role of God
in the lives of his children.
The man who has given up marriage
has become the eldest brother of the Christian family. Renouncing the
possibility of having biological children of his own, the priest receives more
brothers and sisters, more sons and daughters that he can ever have on his own.
Thus, like what he did to Joseph, God has made the priest the head of his household
and ruler over the King’s possession. (Ps. 105:2)
O Mary conceived without sin, pray
for us who have recourse to thee!
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