| Like Jonah, by God’s will, spilled up on
the shore from the belly of the whale to convert Nineveh. By the Providence of God, the
priest is spilled up from the bosom of the community to preach the truth of repentance.
Like Jonah, an imperfect messenger, a mere man with a message of infinite authority. To
govern with humility and gentleness. To walk with his fellow pilgrims on the journey of
life, feeding them bread and wine. A
celibate life, lonely, needing a friend like Jesus, a mother like Mary, the response and
affirmation of the people. At the altar, conscious of his unworthiness, he stands in the
person of Christ, the head of the mystical body, gathering around him the great choirs of
heaven, the souls from purgatory, the people present, and all the people of the world with
their tears and cries, leading and joining their worship, giving voice to all of creation:
to the silent mountains, to the restless sea, to elephants and mice, to flowers and birds,
and all of God’s creatures.
By Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the
unity with the Holy Spirit, he says Amen to the glory of God, the Father.Chosen, not
choosing, forged a priest in the infinite fires of the Holy Spirit. An ordinary man,
walking ordinary streets, among ordinary people, bemused and strengthened by the call he
has heard, "Follow me!"
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