Let This Mystery Change You: The Self-Giving of Christ and the Call of the Priest

Let This Mystery Change You: The Self-Giving of Christ and the Call of the Priest This Homily, delivered on the anniversary of Father Bernard’s ordination, . . . . . . reflects on the deep theological and spiritual meaning of the priesthood, particularly through the lens of the Passion narrative in the Gospel of John. The Homily highlights the moment at the cross where Jesus entrusts Mary to the beloved disciple and vice versa, explaining this as the beginning of Mary’s unique relationship with the priesthood. Mary’s Unique Relationship with the Priesthood The Homily draws a distinction between the celebration of priesthood on Holy Thursday (when Jesus instituted the Eucharist and shared his priesthood with the apostles) and Good Friday, which commemorates Christ’s own high priesthood as He offers Himself in sacrifice for the salvation of the world. The Homily also explains the priest acts in the person of Christ at the altar, not merely recalling the Last Supper but entering into Christ’s eternal sacrifice. A key point is that priests must be transformed by the mystery they celebrate, resting their hearts against Christ’s own, just as John did. The homily draws special attention to the mystical intimacy between Mary and the priest, emphasizing how a priest must not just welcome Mary into his home but allow himself to be welcomed into hers. Finally, the homily praises Father Bernard as one who embodies this deep, Marian-shaped priesthood . . . one who listens to the heart of Christ and allows Mary to guide and shape his vocation. Listen to: Let This Mystery Change You: The Self-Giving of Christ and the Call of the Priest ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christ of St. John of The Cross: Spanish Painter: Salvador Dalí: 1951 The painting is known as the Christ of Saint John of the Cross, because its design is based on a drawing by the 16th-century Spanish friar John of the Cross. Note: This is a low-resolution picture for copyright purposes.