Priesthood and Sacrifice

(Homily at the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help on 27 March 2010)

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

As we are in the Year For Priests, the sharing for today is entitled “Priesthood and Sacrifice”. Here, the word “sacrifice” would mean personal sacrifice or self-sacrifice which we do and offer up to God rather than Christ’s sacrifice through the ministerial priesthood.

The Liturgical colour in the season of Lent is purple; signifying a time of pain, suffering, sorrow, mourning and penitence. However last Thursday, the Liturgical colour was white; which is a symbol of joy, light, purity, and innocence. Every year on the 25th of March, we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation.

On the Annunciation when Mary said “yes” to God, it was a mark of joy because with that “yes”, the process of salvation for mankind began to unfold. Yet after this joy of saying “yes” to God comes also the prophecy to Mary that “a sword will pierce her own soul” as foretold by Simeon in the Temple. Imagine the joy of Mary embracing the new born baby – the Son of God – in her arms during Christmas and later in her life, bearing the pain of receiving the same body of Jesus but now cold and lifeless in her bosom on Good Friday. Mary bore these moments with great patience and fortitude in her heart.

When a priest says “yes” to God, he follows Mary’s footsteps to embrace Christ into himself. And in the Sacrifice of the Mass, the priest makes Christ present when he acts in persona Christi i.e. by taking “the place and person of Christ himself”. By saying yes to God, the priest embraces the birth, life and death of Jesus Christ and with it the joys, sufferings and sorrows of Christ.

I remember when I was living with the Jesuit communities in the mission fields, I noticed that the old Jesuit missionaries were particularly gentle in their manner and wise in their way of life. I also noticed that almost, if not all of them carried and prayed the rosary. Old as they are, they still turn to Mary and pray and ask for her intercession and protection. Why? Because life in the mission field can be very difficult. And they know that only Mary, their Mother can understand them and help them to continue to live and work in the land they were sent.

Have you seen any priests who are struggling or are facing some crises? Or do you have any complaints against your priests? Pray for them and ask Mary to help them.

What about yourselves? Are you or your loved ones going through hard times or difficulties? Turn to Mary, our Mother of Perpetual Help to pray for us and be with us always.

Let us learn from Mary that we could do sacrifices to God by first saying “yes” to Him. And we know that the “yes” we say will come with much joy and sorrow. But we can always turn to Mary for help, guidance and protection as we journey with her in this world. Amen.