A few years ago I came across a very interesting article in Forbes magazine—the leading business and finance journal. The title of the article was “The 10 Happiest Jobs”. Among the list of those who have the highest job satisfaction are firefighters, special education teachers, psychologists, physical therapists, and machine operators because they get to play with giant toys like bulldozers and backhoes and the like.
The author also listed the “10 most hated jobs”, a lot of
them had to do with computer technologies, actually. But, according to the National Organization
for Research at the University of Chicago, and reported in this very reputable
business journal, those with the number one “happiest job” are…clergy.
Priests, ministers, rabbis. The
author even added, “the least wordly are reported to be the happiest of
all.” Profound truth there.
Since 2003, the last Sunday of October for us Catholics in
the United States is known as Priesthood Sunday. Many priests in our own diocese have been
businessmen, lawyers, doctors, teachers, soldiers, boat racers, chemists,
electricians, dentists, who only a little later in life heard God calling them
to discern a priestly vocation. This
week I saw an interesting youtube video about a man who was a professional tap
dancer on broadway, who fell away from the practice of his Catholic faith. But through a persistent Catholic friend, he
returned to the Sacraments and came to discover this deep yearning to serve God
as a priest.
Some priests hear the call to priesthood in the early years
of life. Many priests have even said,
“the only thing I’ve ever wanted to be, ever since I was a young boy, was a
good priest.” Sometimes the call comes a
little later. I first became aware of
the calling during my first year of college at John Carroll, but two of my
classmates entered seminary right out of high school.
Some are called a little later in life. I served with a priest in my first parish
assignment who was married and had four daughters, but after his wife passed
away, felt called to discern priesthood in his late 40s. Thanks be to God he did because he continues
to inspire and serve the people of this diocese.
I think it is the duty of every single Catholic young man to
at least ask the question, in prayer, “God, are you calling me to be a
priest?” And I think it is the duty of
every parent to ask God in prayer, “God, are you calling my son to be a priest,
what can I do to help him hear your voice, to hear your call?” That goes for grandparents, and aunts and
uncles, and godparents as well.
Yesterday, at the Cathedral, Bishop Lennon ordained 4 men as
transitional deacons who will, next May, God willing be ordained priests. In fact, the diocese of Cleveland has over 70
men preparing for priestly ministry. Our
diocese has more vocations than some European countries! Men who could be doctors, lawyers, engineers, professional
athletes or musicians. Men who could no
doubt be wonderful husbands and fathers.
Yet, God is calling them to be spiritual fathers. Father-Priests to bring the supernatural life
of God’s grace into the souls of his faithful.
On this priesthood Sunday, we pray for priests. Because we
need priests! .
Priests to baptize, priests to hear confessions and absolve
sins, priests to celebrate the Eucharist, priests to help hardened sinners
return to Christ, priests to help families live the Gospel. We will need priests until the end of time,
to carry out the ordained ministry according to Christ’s plan for his
Church. And each of us has a role to
help the young men of this generation to hear God’s call.
Just being here at St. Clare for 5 months I know we have
many good young men in our parish.
To be honest when I first entered seminary, I don’t think my
own mother was too happy about it. But,
as she visited the seminary, met the other seminarians, met the wonderful happy
priests at the seminary, she came to realize that her son could have a happy
life as a priest.
There is a tremendous pressure on our
young people from the culture, which tells them they can’t be
happy unless they
are married or they make a lot of money.
I think this is why we are a little over obsessed with athletics these
days. Every parent wants their child to
be the next Lebron James, or Johnny Football.
But no amount of worldly fame or Nike endorsements can compare to the
happiness that comes from a life of service of God’s Church.
The most joyful people I’ve ever met, are
those who have dedicated their lives to serving others. Those who dedicate
their lives to service have found the secret to the joy and fulfillment that we
all long for. It’s no coincidence that
our culture which in many ways is very selfish and self-absorbed is also the
most depressed in our nations history.
Because depression and selfishness often go hand-in-hand.
In the Gospel we heard today that the
greatest command is to love God, with all your heart, all your soul, all your
strength. Most of our unhappiness comes
from our failure to love God as we should.
All too often we buy into our culture’s lies which tell us that things
and possessions will make us happy. So St.
Paul urges us in the second reading to turn away from idols and turn to serving
the living and true God.
All Christians are called to bring their
hearts to God, to allow God to set their hearts on fire with burning
charity. Whether you are the pope, a
parish priest, a parent, a single person, a consecrated virgin, all are called
to be purified of all selfishness, and worldliness, that keeps us from loving
as we should.
Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said, “If I
were asked if I had my life to live over again, would I live the priesthood as
I have, the answer is: ‘No, I would try to love Christ more.” I think every priest goes to sleep at night
with the thought that he could have loved Christ and his people more that day. And isn’t that true for all of us, our greatest
regrets should be that we did not love God and neighbor as we should have.
We pray especially this weekend for all
priests. That their hearts may be
transformed to become like Christ’s own priestly heart.
I certainly extend to anyone here an
invitation to meet to talk about your vocation.
I helped one young woman discern a vocation to join the Franciscan
Sisters in Steubenville. Perhaps, God
has been knocking on the door of your heart recently concerning a priestly or
religious vocation. Give me a call, send
me an email. The time you spend
considering how you may serve the Lord will never go unrewarded. If today you
hear God’s voice, if you hear the voice of the master of the harvest calling
you to serve, harden not your heart.
So if the Lord is knocking on our hearts,
whether that be to consider a religious vocation or urging us to reconcile with
an estranged family member, to forgive a neighbor, to go and make friends with
the lonely widow across the street, or to go and visit the convent or seminary
for a weekend, we need to answer that call.
God calls us to be his instruments of compassion, and mercy, and truth.
May each of us be more attentive to the
ways God is calling us to service for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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