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April 2008 Issue
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Unlikely
lesson
| I
still remember very vividly the conversation in the
car on the way home from Mass that Sunday. No sooner
had this know-it-all pre-teen entered the car when I
started complaining about the homily that day. I remember
going on and on about how boring it was and how soul
deadening our present pastor was to my faith.
My mother
listened patiently as the eldest of my two sisters chimed
in with my rant and the two of us continued most of
the way through town. When the two of us finally took
a breath my mother gently shared a piece of wisdom that,
since I was ordained, I have been known on occasion
to use: "Just remember kids, we don't go to Mass for
the priest, we go for God." |
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My mother was correct that we don't go to
Mass because we are going to receive a great homily, or because
the music is inspiring, or because the priest has such a great
personality, we go to Mass to give thanks and praise to our
loving God who has saved us and called us to be His children.
However, I don't want to downplay the importance of the role
the priest plays in our spiritual lives and in our experience
of worshipping God each week. Because of my mother's wise
reminder I learned over the years to find the gifts that each
of the priest's who served our faith community possessed.
I guess that it is true that with age comes at least at little
wisdom As a result of looking for their gifts, I learned to
appreciate each of the priests I encountered as individuals
who had been called by God to serve the Church.
Granted I connected with some of them more
than others, but each of them came to our faith community
with the desire to serve God and God's people to the best
of their ability. In addition, each of them taught me valuable
lessons about faith and priesthood that are foundational to
my ministry. Several of these priests inspired me to consider
the call to priesthood that God had placed in my heart. And
it was one of these priests who intervened when I was ready
to abandon the idea of priesthood during a difficult period
I experienced toward the end of my studies at the seminary.
Many of them are men I now call my colleagues, and on occasion
I get the opportunity to welcome them to the parish where
I serve as pastor when they come to assist with the Sacrament
of Reconciliation or to preside at a weekend liturgy.
Each of them has become special to me and
to whom I am today, for which I am truly grateful. Without
the motherly advice I received that Sunday morning so long
ago, I might not have learned to find the gifts each priest
possesses or to be inspired to use my gifts in service to
the Church. And if it hadn't been for that conversation I
might not remember to this day that in some car on any given
Sunday some family is discussing my homily or some other aspect
of my ministry - be merciful and remember to look for my gifts,
even if you have to look hard to find them.
- Father Ron Hutchinson is director of priestly
vocations for the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
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