Priesthood

 The Spiritual Waiting Room

Priesthood

Call     Covenant

Bestowing     Anointing     Ministering

Ordained For God's People

Chosen

(poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture: Sirach 45: 6 to 7, 15

God honored Aaron, the brother of Moses, from the tribe of Levi. His office was made permanent and he was given the priesthood to serve the people. He was given special dignity and crowned with great majesty. Aaron was ordained by Moses who anointed him with holy oil. God made a lasting covenant with him and his family. It was an agreement that was to be as permanent as the heavens. Aaron would serve God as a priest and share blessing with the people in God's name.

(scripture adapted by John J. McNamara)

Reflection

In our reading from Sirach Aaron receives a call from God. He is honored to serve the people as a priest.

We see the special dignity that Aaron is given as he responds to this call. He did not know all the implications of this call or exactly what would be involved but he trusted God and he knew that God would be with him as he discovered all that would come from saying "Yes" to God.

His priesthood was conferred on him by his brother, Moses. As a sign that Aaron would be "set apart", he was anointed with oil. The symbol of the oil was a sign that he would be strengthened for the task ahead.

As Aaron was honored by being called by God, all of us are honored by our call to serve. We are tasked with the ministry of reaching out to those who need us.

Some are called to the ordained priesthood. Others are called to the priesthood of the faithful. 

The common element is a response to the call from God. It is a call to serve others.

In the priesthood we all have a realization that we have been blessed by God. We realize how much God has given us. We are grateful.

Sirach tells us that as priests we "share a blessing". We thank God for all who have shared the blessing of priesthood with us through their loving service.

In our picture this week Kathy and I were at the ordination of a fine young man we got to know. He was being ordained as a deacon and a few months later as a priest. 

He responded to God's call just as Aaron did and all of us are trying to do. It is a covenant with God. We agree to serve others and God agrees to honor and bless us with a Love that lasts forever.

Enjoy your call to priesthood! 

1. How has God called you to serve?

2. What is the difference between the ordained priesthood and the priesthood of the faithful?

3. What do they share in common?

4.How has God blessed you?