by Rev. Cornelius O'Brien
The most amazing thing about being a priest is that we were called by God from Eternity in Christ, as Peter was—and Judas. We were called to be transformed ourselves and to be the instruments of the transformation of others. Today, as we celebrate the anniversary of our calling, it is wise to recall how our Lord dealt with His first priests. The first thing to notice is that He called them by name. He did not wait to be introduced to Simon. He called his name and changed it. He saw Nathaniel under the fig tree and won his friendship immediately, and began already to reveal Himself as the Son of Man on whom the angels of God would ascend and descend. The establishing of a personal relationship with each of them is His first act in their formation.
It is so with each of us. The personal relationship with Him of faith and love is the first and essential element of our priesthood. As was the case with His apostles, the deepening of that personal bond with Christ must be the very heart of our seminary experience and of our priesthood. Otherwise, we are "sounding brass and tinkling cymbal."
Look again at the scripture story. See how He deals with those simple men, chosen by Him to be the foundation of His church. How He defends them; how He corrects and reprimands them; how He nicknames them—"Peter," after all, is partly a nickname, and James and John become "Sons of Thunder." Peter and Judas are the best subjects for our study.
Peter from the beginning is special. With James and John he is part of everything from their first meeting to his shameful denial during the trial. He participated in the Tabor experience and in the most dramatic miracles. He alone is involved in the humorous event of the fish with the gold piece in its mouth. He alone, during a nasty storm on the lake, says, "Lord, if it be you, bid me to come to you on the water," and Jesus says, "Come," and the "Rock" walked on the water—until he lost sight of the face of his Lord. It was Peter who boasted at the last supper that he would die for his Lord, and was warned by his Lord of the danger of vain boasting. "Simon, Simon, Satan has desired you that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith fail not." And it did not fail at the terrible moment of denial—but I am sure that ever afterwards his heart missed a beat when he heard a rooster crow. Every priest should know Peter very well.
Every priest should also know Judas. Judas is the career priest. He had his own plan. He was profoundly impressed by the great power of Jesus. He would use that power to free his people from Rome's tyranny. His faith in Jesus did not grow. He was too occupied with his own plans. He was the only one at the Last Supper who did not call Jesus, "Lord." St. Paul tells us that only through grace can one call Jesus, "Lord." Judas has refused both grace and friendship with Christ. When his plan failed and he saw that Jesus was submitting to death, he had nothing to save him from suicide. He should have known, after three years in His company, that Jesus would forgive him—but he had never really listened. He was too busy with his own plans. Yes, every priest should know Judas very well.
It was at the Last Supper, after He had instituted the Eucharist—and after Judas had left—that Our Lord reaches magnificent levels of eloquent love in His discourse and prayer when He speaks of union he seeks with His priests. "Do not let your hearts be troubled … In my Father's house there are many dwelling places … I go to prepare a place for you and I shall come back again and take you with me, that where I am you also may be." "I will not leave you orphans … I will ask the Father and He will send you another Advocate, the Spirit of Truth … You will know Him because He dwells with you and is in you." "I am the Vine, you are the Branches."
In His prayer He asks His Father to preserve His apostles from harm "that they may be one as We are one." "And not for these alone do I pray but for those also who through their words will believe in Me, that they all may be one as Thou, Father, in Me and I in Thee, that they may be one in Us, that the world may believe that Thou has sent Me."
The magnificence of our union with Him that He likens to His union with His Father is beyond our wildest imaginings—but we must realize that, simply because He wishes it, it is there for us, if only we open our minds and hearts. It is His gift, not our achievement. If we accept His great gift, then our lives are transformed, and our priesthood becomes an irresistible force for the transformation of our people. We are not effective if we are only channels of graces. We must be overflowing reservoirs. Our people will sense our love for Christ in the way we say Mass and preach and pray and live, and they will be moved by this, more than by any merely human eloquence.
On this, the anniversary of our priesthood, let us deepen our love for Him, and for the people whom He loves.
