For the Sake of the People
For the Sake of the People
Every priest who works in this sacred ministry has received this rank for the sake of the people, and not for himself.
As for his own self, he commits to offer it in the field of service for the sake of his people, because he works in the realm of pastoral care: “The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (Jn 10:11).
To him, priesthood is not authority, but responsibility.
It is a burden placed upon his shoulder, not a crown set upon his head. It is an account he will render to God on the Last Day for every soul and every family within the scope of his service… And it was said of the Lord Christ, to Him be glory, that “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45).
Therefore, how beautiful it is for the priest to strive with all his heart, all his effort, and all his labor, to find a dwelling place for the Lord in the heart of every person. And as David the Prophet said: “Surely I will not enter the chamber of my house, or go up to the comfort of my bed; I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob” (Ps 132:3–5).
His life is toil—physical toil—so that his spirit may rest and his conscience may rest in fulfilling his duty for the sake of his spiritual children.
And according to the measure of his toil, so will be his reward from God for his ministry. As St. Paul the Apostle said about his ministry and that of his fellow worker Apollos: “Each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor” (1 Cor 3:8).
It is a spiritual and pastoral principle placed before the priest:
Either the priest toils, and thus the people find rest;
Or he rests, and thus the people suffer.
Blessed is he who chooses toil… and finds in toil a kind of rest—an inner rest in the depths of his soul, and a rest when he sees the fruits of this toil in the spiritual life of his people… And he also finds rest when he feels the hand of God working with him and comforting him in all his labor. As the Scripture says: “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love” (Heb 6:10).
Therefore, how beautiful is the Apostle’s exhortation to priests and all servants: “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor 15:58).
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