Editor’s note: This is the second of two columns on priests as configured to Christ. The first was The priest configures himself to Jesus, the high priest.
Jesus was a tremendous preacher and teacher. He taught large crowds, small groups and individuals. Sometimes he taught in synagogues. Sometimes he spoke plainly, other times in figures of speech taken from ordinary life, all to help his listeners encounter God and live according to God’s ways.
Configured to Jesus, a priest devotes considerable time and energy to the preaching task with prayer, study and reflection. He grounds his preaching in Scripture, explains it with insight and clarity and makes it applicable to daily living. He preaches at Mass and teaches in adult education, the school, faith formation, retreats and other settings.
In his teaching, Jesus placed an extremely high priority on love and forgiveness. He taught about love and modeled it by the way he loved everyone. He taught about forgiveness and modeled it by the way he forgave those who offended him, particularly his tormentors at the foot of the cross, as well as Peter who denied him and the disciples who abandoned him.
Configured to Jesus, a priest preaches frequently about the commandment to love one’s neighbor, and very importantly, is a shining example of love himself by the kind way he treats his parishioners, his staff, liturgical ministers, school children, visitors and strangers.
In addition, because every person has been hurt, and every person has hurt someone else, it is imperative that the priest preach about forgiveness, its importance and how to forgive. Moreover, the priest himself has hurt others and must own up to his offenses and make amends. And the priest has been hurt, maybe by an employee, maybe by a parishioner, sometimes badly, stung to the heart. The priest must let go of his desire to retaliate or arry a grudge. He must forgive from his heart, just as his master did.
Jesus was deeply concerned about the sick, injured and those suffering from disease. He treated them with compassion, came to their aid, and set aside time and energy for his healing ministry. Configured to Jesus, a priest has a special concern for anyone who is suffering from some form of affliction. The priest seeks out the sick, listens to their concerns, offers encouragement and spiritual support and is an agent of God’s healing grace. The priest makes time to visit the homebound, hospital patients, the residents of care centers, and troubled souls, and he encourages and facilitates the ministry of others who care for the sick.
Jesus cast out demons. He liberated people from the evil forces that had control over them. Configured to Jesus, a priest opposes evil and the devil whenever and wherever he may encounter them. The first place is within himself. If the devil has control over some aspect of the priest’s life, he must face it, name it and with the grace of God, drive it from his life. The priest helps his people see and admit the self-destructive and demonic forces that possess them, and how to invoke the power of Jesus Christ, the liberator, to give them release and freedom. The priest is carefully attuned to his parish and school, the neighborhood, the Church, organizations, and society, and formed by Jesus, can identify those things that are contrary to the Gospel and prophetically provide a vision for how to live according to God’s ways.
Jesus is the truth. He spoke the truth, and he came to testify to the truth. He declared that the truth will set us free. Speaking the truth has consequences. Jesus did not say that the truth will get you killed, but he could have. Nevertheless, nothing deterred Jesus from speaking the truth. Conformed to Jesus, a priest has an obligation to seek the truth, speak the truth and uphold the truth. This takes exceptional courage. Those who espouse lies detest the truth and those who speak it. A priest needs to be ready for the battles that are sure to come and realize that he will not be liked by all. A priest need only please one person –– Jesus, the great high priest.
Father Van Sloun is the director of clergy personnel for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
