Fatigue in Service
Fatigue in Service
Before the priest in his pastoral work there lies one of two things:
- Either the priest labors so that the people may rest.
- Or he rests, and the people become the ones who labor.
And it is the priest’s duty to labor for the sake of his people, whom God has entrusted to him, and from his hand He will require their blood (Ezekiel 33:8).
And according to the measure in which the priest labors, he receives his reward…
For Saint Paul the Apostle said regarding service: “Each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.” (1 Corinthians 3:8).
The labor that lies before the priest is:
Labor in visiting the people—family by family and individual by individual—spiritually and pastorally, learning about their spiritual lives, guiding them, learning about their problems during these visits, and solving them.
And there is also labor in preaching and teaching:
Concerning this the Apostle said: “Let the elders (priests) who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.” (1 Timothy 5:17).
And there is labor in bearing with the people—especially those who are spiritually weak, who may become harsh with the priest and may criticize him—yet still expect from him the good example in tolerance, patience, and the gentle answer that turns away wrath.
And the priest must also labor in the activities of the Church:
In all its projects and in everything needed for the comfort of its children of all spiritual and social levels and all age groups. He must care for the youth, the children, the workers, the women, the needy, the strangers, and the disabled. And he must provide for each of these what comforts them, so that no individual is lost in the crowd.
And he must labor in finding time for the confessions of the people:
The confessors may number in the hundreds or the thousands. He must listen to them all, feeling that if he fails, perhaps one of them may perish, or the opportunity to solve his problem or draw him to repentance may be lost.
For the Apostle said: “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account, that they may do so with joy and not with grief…” (Hebrews 13:17).
How great is the priest’s labor. But it is labor filled with sweetness, for the sake of the Kingdom. And its fruit is joyful, making the priest forget all his toil.
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