Why I want to be a priest

Unfortunately sometimes when we look at careers we have a tendency to see if we are attracted to the actions of the job or what the job will allow us to do. When I was young I always dreamed about working for George Lucas and helping in the Star Wars movies. Being part of the Star Wars Production seemed to be the ideal job. As I got older, I realized my skills would probably not lend me to be able to have a career for Lucas. In high school I did find one of my talents, that is the gift of speaking. I was able to overwhelm my sisters with the strength of my voice, which seemed to give me more joy than them.  So I took notice that part of the Mass was the homily, the priest speaking to the people in the Church. I think this was first started my attraction to the priesthood. I admired that Fr. Arnold, Fr. Dunn and Fr. Trenor were not only sincere men of prayer, but they were wise men that knew how to relate the world and the Church together. As I listened to them more I began to see myself potentially as a priest. This insight allowed me to start thinking that being a priest was not only possible but would be a worthy task.

Preaching is an activity that I very much enjoy as a priest. In fact, I am sad when I look at the schedule and see that the deacons are preaching. It is an activity that takes work and effort, but it is a labor that I enjoy. It requires several things. First and foremost it requires grace. Preaching is not what I think people need to hear, but what the God and the Church need people to hear. Second it takes a daily prayer life. You have to go to God daily, so that you know Him and are receptive to the information. It takes an education from the Church. Just speak with any of the seminarians; being a priest has an academic component that must be completed. It also takes a great knowledge of the community; you must know your parishioners. It also takes a listening ear on the part of the preacher. I know that I in need of the message of the homily myself.

Sometimes when I look back on what I wanted to do with my life, when it was just what I thought possible or wanted, I laugh at myself. Now when I look at what I am able to do because of answering God’s call I see how what He wanted is far better than I could have imagined. I think most young boys dream of doing a job that is of service to society, then when they get into high school, the world presses them to be concerned about what they can do for themselves to survive in the world. Grace is what should inspire us to see how we can make what God wants for us with what we want and then accomplish more than we could dream.