Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Priests: Servants in Pastoral Ministry
Bible portion: St. John 10:1-11
Devotion
Devotion
Today our church observes Clergy Sunday. Today we should pray and remember for the clergy who has helped us in shaping our faith and encouraged us for a witnessing life. The theme to ponder upon is, Priests: Servants in Pastoral Ministry. Who is a priest? Peter gives the best answer that in 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood…”. It denotes that we the faithful are part of the priestly ministry of the Lord, and the ordained clergy among us are chosen from the royal priesthood of God, to minister the Lord’s people. The ministry of a Priest is pastoral ministry. A pastor is a spiritual overseer of the people of God. Thus the ministry of a pastor or a priest is to oversee the flock so as to lead them to Christ and Salvation in Christ. Then what is that God demands of us priests through the ministry?
Priests: Gate keepers of Christ.
“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him…”. St. John 10:3
Christ is the only gate of salvation. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross ensures salvation to all creation. Salvation is out of the Love of God (St. John 3:16) and through Grace (Ephesians 2:8). But the choice to remain in this salvation remains in our personal conviction to lead a life worthy of eternity. In John 10:9 we read, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.” Here Jesus proclaims that he is the gate of salvation and those who pass through the gate are the sheep of his flock and shall be saved. Which implies that sheep who pass through the gate, they are the people who identify Jesus as the means of salvation. The gatekeeper opens the gate for those who are the sheeps that follow the shepherd. In this world Priests are supposed to be the gatekeepers that open the gate (Christ) to the faithful. They should make sure that they open the door of salvation, which is Christ to all those who seek him.
Priests: Walks before the flock of Christ.
“When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them…”St. John 10:4.
Jesus says that he goes ahead of the flock. He is the way and he walks before them that they may be saved. He is not just pointing towards a way but he is walking ahead of them and with them. Priests are called and commissioned to walk ahead and with the people of the Lord. Priests should walk before them that they may not be misrouted and misguided from the path of salvation. They are guides that lead the flock by walking ahead of them towards the true master of the flock which is Jesus Christ.
“A true shepherd leads the way. He does not merely point the way”. - Leonard Ravenhill.
Priests: Re-presents Christ.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
St. John 10:11
Jesus tells the disciples about the sacrifice on the cross that brings life to the entire creation. Christ is saying that he shall willingly lay down his life for the Sheep. Through life and ministry, priests should be the presence that ensures Christ in the life of the faithful. Thus, Christ’s presence should be re-presented through the life of priests. Sacrificial life is demanded through the words of Jesus Christ. In every means, words and actions priests should re- present Christ. In his book A priest is not His own, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen tells about the priests who ministers tirelessly “….(a priest of the Lord) seeks the opportunity to be another Christ”.
Priests: Gate keepers of Christ.
“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him…”. St. John 10:3
Christ is the only gate of salvation. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross ensures salvation to all creation. Salvation is out of the Love of God (St. John 3:16) and through Grace (Ephesians 2:8). But the choice to remain in this salvation remains in our personal conviction to lead a life worthy of eternity. In John 10:9 we read, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.” Here Jesus proclaims that he is the gate of salvation and those who pass through the gate are the sheep of his flock and shall be saved. Which implies that sheep who pass through the gate, they are the people who identify Jesus as the means of salvation. The gatekeeper opens the gate for those who are the sheeps that follow the shepherd. In this world Priests are supposed to be the gatekeepers that open the gate (Christ) to the faithful. They should make sure that they open the door of salvation, which is Christ to all those who seek him.
Priests: Walks before the flock of Christ.
“When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them…”St. John 10:4.
Jesus says that he goes ahead of the flock. He is the way and he walks before them that they may be saved. He is not just pointing towards a way but he is walking ahead of them and with them. Priests are called and commissioned to walk ahead and with the people of the Lord. Priests should walk before them that they may not be misrouted and misguided from the path of salvation. They are guides that lead the flock by walking ahead of them towards the true master of the flock which is Jesus Christ.
“A true shepherd leads the way. He does not merely point the way”. - Leonard Ravenhill.
Priests: Re-presents Christ.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
St. John 10:11
Jesus tells the disciples about the sacrifice on the cross that brings life to the entire creation. Christ is saying that he shall willingly lay down his life for the Sheep. Through life and ministry, priests should be the presence that ensures Christ in the life of the faithful. Thus, Christ’s presence should be re-presented through the life of priests. Sacrificial life is demanded through the words of Jesus Christ. In every means, words and actions priests should re- present Christ. In his book A priest is not His own, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen tells about the priests who ministers tirelessly “….(a priest of the Lord) seeks the opportunity to be another Christ”.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help us to be gate keepers ,enable us to walk before the flock of Christ and ultimately represent Christ to the world in our pastoral ministry.
Thought for the Day
Priests - Gate keepers of Christ.
Rev.Shibin Sisumani
Vicar,St,Paul's Mar Thoma Church ,Anchal
Kerala
Lord Jesus, help us to be gate keepers ,enable us to walk before the flock of Christ and ultimately represent Christ to the world in our pastoral ministry.
Thought for the Day
Priests - Gate keepers of Christ.
Rev.Shibin Sisumani
Vicar,St,Paul's Mar Thoma Church ,Anchal
Kerala