The Priesthood as a Calling and a Mission – Part 2
This lecture affirms that the priesthood is neither a general matter nor a right for all believers, but rather a divine calling, a special selection, and a specific mission from God, granted to particular individuals to perform spiritual and authoritative works that the rest of the people cannot perform.
🕊 The Priesthood Is Not for Everyone
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that the idea “we are all priests” contradicts biblical teaching, as Scripture clearly states that God “gave some” and not all to be apostles, prophets, pastors, and teachers. If priesthood were for everyone, there would be no distinction or special calling.
📖 Divine Selection in Scripture
His Holiness presents many examples from the Old and New Testaments, showing that God Himself chooses the priests:
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He first chose the firstborn, then replaced them with Aaron and his sons.
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He rejected attempts to unlawfully seize the priesthood, as in the case of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
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He confirmed that priesthood is based on divine choice, not human desire.
🔔 Priesthood as a Calling and a Mission
Priesthood is not merely an inner calling but a clear mission.
God calls first, then sends.
Thus Christ said: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and sent you.”
No one has the right to send himself or define his ministry on his own.
🛐 Legitimate Channels of Priesthood
Even those whom God calls do not practice priesthood except through the legitimate channels He established:
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Holy anointing
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Laying on of hands
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The spiritual breath
This shows that calling alone is not sufficient; it must be completed through lawful ecclesiastical ordination.
🔥 The Work of the Holy Spirit
His Holiness distinguishes between:
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The Holy Spirit’s work in a believer’s personal spiritual life.
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The authoritative work of the Holy Spirit in priesthood, granting authority over sacraments, binding and loosing, teaching, and governance.
This authority is granted only through ordination.
⛪ Continuity of the Priesthood
His Holiness explains that the succession of laying on of hands continued from Christ to the apostles, and from the apostles to bishops, priests, and deacons, generation after generation, so that the Church would not fall into spiritual or organizational void.
✨ Spiritual Conclusion
The priesthood is a calling, a choice, a mission, an anointing, and an authority.
Because it is a divine calling, it is not for all people, but for those whom God has chosen and appointed by the Holy Spirit through the Church, for the service of the sacraments and the edification of the Body of Christ
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