PRIESTS VS THE PEOPLE
Dearest friends,
Through the sacrament of Holy Orders, PRIESTS are specially ANOINTED as ministers of God. Thus, God separates them from the rest of the PEOPLE through an indelible seal (cf. CCC n. 1574). No one takes this honour upon himself (cf. Heb 5:4). It is a mystery of transformation; a triumph of the GRACE of God in mere human person.
Granted priests are anointed ministers of God, they are also human beings. They equally embody in their person some human WEAKNESSES. They ought not to celebrate these weaknesses but struggle day by day to overcome them. At times, these weaknesses play out in their relationship with the people. The question here is: How do you react to the weaknesses of priests; even when it affects you directly? Do you seek for ruthless revenge or do you excuse, forgive and pray for him/them? Remember, priests are God’s anointed, even in their human weaknesses. God himself says: “Do not touch my anointed and to my prophets, do no harm” (cf. Ps 105:15). By extension, this includes ALL Christ’s faithful, anointed at their BAPTISM. Do not lay violent hand on any of them!
The Catholic faith teaches us that we have the following duties towards our priests: praying for them, giving them good advice, giving them both moral and financial support and respecting them as ministers of God (cf. Can. 222, Igbo catechism, 1996 ed. n. 513).
Now, in case you do not know, those who kidnap priests, persecute priests, who plot against priests and who speak all kinds of evil against priests are reminded today that they are not truly being Christians. They should remember that priests are God’s anointed and then always act like David, who did not harm Saul, even when he had the opportunity to do so (cf. 1 Sam 26:1-23). They should not allow their earthly nature to override their heavenly nature in dealing with priests. The truth is that violence done to God’s ANOINTED attracts unimaginable PUNISHMENTS (cf. Num 12 and 16).
We pray the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, to always support us with her powerful intercession. Amen🙏🏼
Happy Sunday and remain blessed!
(CATECHESIS (NKUZI NKE OKWUKWE) FOR THE 7TH SUNDAY, YEAR C
READINGS: R1 1 Sam 26:2.7-9.12-13.22-23, R2 1 Cor 15:45-49, Gosp Lk 6:27-38)
