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Homily for Priests’ Retreat 2007
Once again at this Retreat we are at Lake of Gennesaret, there are fisherman, Simon (Peter), James and John, Zebedee’s sons, (Simon’s partners) we find ourselves at a crowded shore, there are two empty boats, nets being cleaned, it is morning, they had been fishing all night and caught nothing, Peter gives Jesus his boat, then, as he cleaned his nets, he listened.
Jesus finished, he asked Simon, who objected at first, to “put out into the deep.” Simon, after a huge catch, realized he was in the presence of a holy man. The only words he could say were “Leave me Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Very honest! More honest than we are!
Jesus then directed Simon to move from the everyday world of fishing to a new world, the Kingdom of God. He said to Simon Peter go, “catch men.”
A man comes from among other men, and by God’s call and His grace, is made His follower. This great mystery is our call to priesthood. We are invited to ponder this call during our Retreat. It is a privilege to be called to priesthood, not a right. It is a privilege to lead God’s people, not a right.
Have I used this privilege to His greater glory and to bring benefit to His Church, or have I used it for myself, my own selfish gain? Have I been “Peter” for God’s people or have I run from my responsibilities for fear of difficulties? Have I served Christ, to the point of giving my life? Have I even begun to follow Him as the Apostles did, or have I just been going through the motions?
Am I the priest Christ calls me to be, the priest that my parents, brothers, sisters, and people expect me to be? Am I the priest that Peter and the Apostles would recognize, or is this all about me, and my gain? These are the hard questions that Christ Himself puts before us on this Retreat.
O St. Peter, friend of Christ, sinner made saint, coward made brave heart, ordinary man made extra ordinary all with God’s grace, O St. Peter patron of apostles, pray for me!
Bishop Gregory J. Mansour
(Reprinted with permission.)
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