A Priestly Vocation

“And often…I hear the answer it was these times, times of GREAT STRUGGLE between good and evil, times of the great struggle between Mary and Satan that draw many…into the priesthood, so that they might participate in this great battle fully, decisively, in a defined manner…

I will say even more:  this battle runs through the HEART of each of us.  A priestly ordination, a PRIESTLY VOCATION, does not free us from the BATTLE.” Saint Pope John Paul II

Weigel, G. (2010) The End and the Beginning.  New York:  Doubleday Religion

 

JMJ

The mystery of every VOCATION is spurred by the INTENSITY of LOVE created and immersed by the SIGNIFICANT REALITY of a STRUGGLE against all the PRINCIPALITIES and POWERS that divide Man from who He is made in the Image and Likeness of God; created in His image there is a BATTLE that reflects and consumes the Heart of Man towards what is GREATER!  GREATER than what the world can offer in its allurements of a FALSE LOVE that divides and brings to destruction His own GREATNESS!  In this GREAT STRUGGLE, the inner conscience of Man is brought to light and He is asked the question, “Whom do you seek?”  The very HEART responds, “CHRIST!”  Christ then responds, “Come, Follow me.”  Where?  To the CROSS!  A DEFINED MANNER of following He who shared in our HUMANITY leads towards His GREAT PASSION!  Passion that allows Man to participate in this GREAT BATTLE FULLY!  There in the HEART of every VOCATION is the full capacity of Man to respond as Christ, “There is no greater LOVE than to lay down ones’ life for ones’ FRIENDS!”  I would lay down my life for you!   Peter, Peter truly, truly I say to you before the cock crows you will deny that you know me three times.  THREE TIMES!  THREE TIMES!  THREE TIMES!  The WAR BEGINS!  The STRUGGLE!  THE BATTLE! 

MARY!

My MOTHER!

TOTUS TUUS!

We are brought to the FULL CAPACITY to RUN to CHRIST in the midst of the struggle between Good and Evil, between Mary and Satan!  Where will you go?  Who will you TRUST!?  I have denied Him three times, Him whom I promised I would lay down my life and die for……the BITTERNESS of GRIEF overwhelms my HEART!

He is CRUCIFIED and DIED on a CROSS for me and for you!  The STRUGGLE, the BATTLE!  I am overwhelmed and my Heart calls out to Him!  TRUST!  TRUST!  TRUST! 

Mary, my Mother!  LOVE has BEEN CRUCIFIED!  LOVE NOW REDEEMS!  THREE DAYS!  THREE DAYS!  THREE DAYS!  THE TOMB is NOW EMPTY!  Where is HE!?!

On the SHORE!  “My CHILDREN, have you caught anything?”  Nothing, my Lord!  Bring down the NETS for a CATCH!  153 FISH!

DOMINUS EST!  IT IS THE LORD!

Run to Him!  Embrace HIM!  FOLLOW HIM!

Look at Him, Gaze at Him…..He is HERE!  He is LOOKING at ME! 

Yes, my CHILD, you have denied me three times, but now I come to you and offer you my MERCY! 

“Do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord You know that I love you.” 

“Feed my sheep.”

"Peter, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord You know that I love you.”

“Feed my sheep.”

“Peter, the ROCK, do you love me more than these?”

“YES, LORD, YOU KNOW EVERYTHING YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU!”

“FEED MY LAMBS!”

Thrice I have denied Him, and THRICE I have RENEWED my LOVE for HIM whom my Heart loves!  Christ, my REDEEMER has ARISEN!  CHRIST, my REDEEMER has ARISEN!  CHRIST, MY REDEEMER HAS ARISEN!  ALLELUIA!  ALLELUIA!  HE IS NO LONGER DEAD, HE IS ALIVE!  ALIVE, I SAY!  ALIVE!

My Friend, my LOVE, my CHILD, now that you know what it means to follow me, STRENGTHEN YOUR BRETHREN!

Christ, my REDEEMER LIVES!  Christ, my REDEEMER LIVES!  Christ, my REDEEMER LIVES!  Christ TRIUMPHS and we share in the BATTLE that is ALREADY VICTORIOUS!  ALLELUIA!  ALLELUIA!  CHRIST IS ARISEN!