A Reflection from Fr. Juan

Isaiah 61:6 says, “You yourselves shall be names priests of the Lord, ministers of God you shall be called.” Revelation 1, 6 says that Jesus Christ “made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father…” These verses tell us that we are all priests. This may sound strange to us because we usually think of a priest only in the sense of a man who is ordained and whom we call “Father.” However, by our Baptism and Confirmation, all members of the Church participate in the one Priesthood of Jesus Christ, both those ordained and those not ordained. Those who are not ordained are called the laity, which means “the people.” Their participation in the Priesthood of Jesus Christ is different from that of the ordained. Nevertheless, all lay men and women are considered to be priests of the Lord. The role of priests is to offer sacrifices to make themselves and other holy. What sacrifices do lay people offer as priests of the Lord? By fulfilling their daily responsibilities, taking care of their children, taking care of elderly parents, trying to communicate better with their spouse, and accepting the challenges and pressures of their daily work, lay people offer daily these sacrifices and many more as priests of the Lord to make themselves and our world holier. Lay people exercise their priesthood especially by coming to Mass each week and offering their lives in union with Christ, the High Priest, in the Eucharist, for their good and the good of all the Church.

- Fr. John

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