Priests

Almighty God has instilled in my heart a very great love for His holy priests. I have always had a desire to pray for them and most recently, in the past few years, even more so, a desire to sacrifice for them, for their holiness. I feel that in these times of difficulties within the Church, they are special targets of the evil one. Satan loves to tempt them and to manipulate their minds; to lure them away from keeping their focus always on Jesus. He knows their weaknesses, for he studies them. Once he discovers their weaknesses, it is precisely there that he tries to put a wedge between priests and God. These chosen ones are our ladders to God, for they are the ones who bring us the sacraments. It is the hands of the priests that absolve us from our sins. It is those beautiful hands that when they say the words of consecration, and they lift the host and the chalice, they are not only the priest, but the victim as well. The elements change from common bread and wine into the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then those holy hands actually place the Eucharist upon our unworthy tongues as we receive our spiritual food. These hands bless us so many times. They offer us the sacrament of the sick and in the absence of the bishop, bring the Holy Spirit to us in the sacrament of confirmation. This is just to name a few. Yet, we so often criticize our priests. How can we dare to criticize those that are handpicked by God Himself, placed under the protection of Mary herself? They are human, just as we are human. Do we not also sin? Today in Mass I practically melted as I observed and listened to the priest slowly and so beautifully pronounce the words of consecration. I saw Jesus offering Himself to the Father. I was so moved. I was overwhelmed with the power of the priesthood. I was once again incredibly thankful for the gift bestowed upon us by the Father; the gift of His son, Jesus, given to us in perpetuity, through the means of the Eucharistic meal that we receive each and every time we approach the altar at Mass. How do we deserve this precious gift? We couldn't possibly deserve this gift. Yet, God so loved us that He gave us His only begotten Son, knowing full well that we would have Him with us for all eternity. How awesome. How unbelieveable. I never cease to be amazed at my God and His great love for us. Thank you, God, for your love for us and for the gift of the priesthood. I thank you, too, for my friends that are priests Michael, Antonio and Fr. Tom. It is a great honor to have three such holy men for friends.