THE GIFT OF PRIESTHOOD
TO AN UNWORHTY SERVANT PAUL IKECHUKWU OGUJIOFFOR- HOLY THURSDAY REFLECTION
28-03-2013
On this day Holy
Thursday I remember with joy the greatest and highest gift which the Lord gave
to me. This is a special day for me, a memorial day for the institution of the
priesthood which Christ gave as a mystery of His memorable continuity of
salvation to humanity and the world in general. The liturgical celebrations
which started with the Liturgy of the Hours, then the Chrism Mass which I concelebrated
with Giuseppe Cardinale Bertoni at Duomo Santa Maria di Fiori Firenze and
culminated with the Celebration of Last Supper at Parrocchia SS. Quirico e
Giulitta Capalle-Firenze, all make me terrify and put before me with deep
thought of my nothingness and unworthiness as a minister of this mysterious
Sacrament. What am I Lord that You found me worthy and fit to touch always and
more so represent You in your Victim-Love, Oblation-Love, Sacrificial-Love,
Compassion-Love, Healing-Love, Nourishing-Love and Incarnate-Love, in this
Sacrament of your God-Man Presence? In this mysterious celebration which I
share and participate in celebrating though unworthy as I am, your Presence is
incarnated in the words and actions,
hence I am beclouded in your Divinity and found myself very sinful cooperating within
your operation and epiphany in the
nature which is your Ipsum Esse Christus
Sacerdos in Aeternum. The mystery of the priesthood which is inseparable
with the Holy Eucharist is properly Divine-Love manifestation which I celebrate
in Christ, with Christ and for Christ under the maternal care and direction of
the Church, introduce silence in me and brings deep shame to me when I see the
saintly faithful people who are better than me coming for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Oh Lord you are the Person that forgives, please pardon me for the many times
which I have celebrated this Sacrament of Love with insensitivity and
insensibility. Very many times I have abandoned you in the Most Blessed
Sacrament in the Tabernacle forgetting my priestly function without giving you
respect, Oh Lord Jesus have mercy on me. Your immeasurable love have been
trampled by me and scandalize very many, please forgive me, that the privilege
you granted me as a priest may be enjoyed in a most fruitful way by your
faithful followers whom I serve. Washing the Apostles’ feet, you preached,
taught and lived concretely your mission on earth as a slave to your creatures
because of your Divine kenosis. How often do I sincerely and humbly show the
Divine kenosis to people who I was ordained for? Lord give me your spirit that I may always find joy in
serving rather than to be served.
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