Veritas PH

The WORD. The TRUTH.

 443 total views

My answers to those questions involve three “C’s”. The first “C” is competence. Every priest must be a man of competence. Competence does not necessarily mean being good at handling finances, nor is it merely connected to one’s facility in writing and public speaking. Knowing you, you will understand it if a priest is not good at fundraising or public speaking, provided you see the face of God in the face of the priest.

So the competence that the Church expects from priests is that the priest must be a man well-versed with God. We might not know how to count; we might not know interior designing. We might not know architecture and engineering. I know you will excuse our lack of knowledge about these things. But I know you will be confused if you ask a priest about God and he is not able to give you an answer.

The priest of competence must know God, not only from the books of Theology and catechism, but the competent priest must also know God by experience. That is the first requirement of a priest’s competence.

The second thing that is asked of us as men of God and men of the Church–the second “C”, so to speak—is that we be men of commitment. There are different ways of defining commitment. But I have my own. I believe that the synonym of commitment is generosity. Somebody who is committed must give. And somebody who is not good does not give; even if he says he is faithful to his promise, he is actually a liar. Somebody who is committed must give all the time because it was by an act of generosity that God saved all of us.

I have told you time and again that I do not feel guilty giving away the gifts that you give me. And if you discover that the gift that you have given me has been given to another person, that is how it should be. I can only promise you one thing—I will make sure that your gifts do not return to you.

It is part of our life to give what we have received. And if we start to keep what we ourselves have received from you, that would be a mark of a problem in our priestly lives. A few months ago, I was bothered by an experience that I had visiting a couple at whose marriage I assisted some years back, when I was just newly ordained, that was around 13 years ago. I was talking to the wife and what she related to me struck me. She excitedly recounted to me how she and her husband celebrated their last wedding anniversary. She said, “Father, do you believe this? Elmer treated me to Jollibee.” And I asked her, “When was that?” And she said, “Two weeks ago.” And I was struck that two weeks after she was treated to Jollibee she was still bubbling with joy, excitement, and pride.

I went home with a prick in my conscience, and I thought to myself, “Blessed are the simple, indeed. Blessed are those with simple joy because they will be happy all the time.” I said I was carrying a prick in my conscience because here I am, a priest, who is supposed to sacrifice and should not even be entitled to Jollibee. But my friends, my family, and my loved ones treat me out to restaurants, give me the choicest food. In fact, they have run out of giving me food because they have given me the best. And they could not use their imagination any longer to give me more. I felt guilty and I said to myself, “Lord, let me discover, not only the joy of a Jollibee meal but also the joy of a simple life.” That is commitment.

The third “C” that is expected from us as priests is that we be men of consecration. I also have my own definition of consecration. Consecration has two words: “con” and “sacred.” “Con” is Spanish for with. So the word means “with the sacred.” And how can we become sacred? How can we become holy? The bread becomes holy, the wine becomes holy so that sins may be forgiven. In other words, we cannot be holy unless we forgive.

Some people say that we cannot be holy unless we serve. But don’t you notice that there are servants among us who carry so much grudge, resentment, and bitterness in their hearts, even if they are serving. You cannot go to heaven unless you forgive. That was the first mission of Jesus. He came so that our sins may be forgiven. Consecration, commitment, and competence—these are the marks of true priesthood, according to our readings for today.

But why am I telling you this? I am the only priest here. Why am I telling you this when all of you are laypeople and I am the only one concerned? There are two reasons. First, I will not be able to remain committed, competent, and consecrated unless you help me. I have told you this, time and again. Give us a chance to sacrifice for you. I know you love me and I know you love my brother priests, but do not spoil us, do not pamper us. Give us a chance to carry your crosses for you because that is why we were called.

The second reason I am telling you this is that competence, commitment, and consecration are not the duties only of the priest. You also must be competent in the things of God, committed and generous without counting the costs, consecrated for a purpose: to forgive one another.

And I want to assure you that if I see you competent in God, generous and forgiving, I, too, will be inspired to be a good priest for you because you have been a good flock to me.

Let us pray for the holiness of priests. Let us pray that all priests may be blessed with holy parishioners so that in the end, we may glorify God together as a Church.

PRIESTS OF JESUS
Mt 10:2
Looking For Jesus

ads
2
3
4
previous arrow
next arrow

Veritas Editorial

Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual

Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual

President of Radio Veritas

Ningas-cogon

 30,862 total views

 30,862 total views Kapanalig, ang salitang “NINGAS-COGON” ay tumutukoy sa ugaling Pilipino … Masigasig at masipag sa simula lamang, ngunit walang natatapos sa kalaunan (NEVER TO FINISH WHAT THEY STARTED). ANG “NINGAS-COGON” AY karaniwang maihalintulad sa mga “hearing in-aid of legislation” ng Kongreso na binubuo ng Mababa(Kamara) at Mataas(Senado) na Kapulungan ng Kongreso. Kadalasan, ang Kongreso

Read More »

Job Mismatches

 41,937 total views

 41,937 total views “Job-skills mismatches”, Kapanalig ito ang malaking problema sa Pilipinas na hindi pa rin natutugunan ng pamahalaan at education sector. Sa pag-aaral ng Philippine Business for Education (PBEd), malaki ang ambag ng “job-skills mismatches” sa umployment at underemployment sa bansa kung saan hindi napapakinabangan ang potensyal ng young workforce. Ayon sa Commission on Higher

Read More »

Mining

 48,270 total views

 48,270 total views Kapanalig, nararanasan natin sa Pilipinas maging sa buong mundo ang “climate crisis” na dulot ng climate change o nagbabagong panahon. Ang Pilipinas bilang tropical country ay dumaranas ng mahigit sa 20-bagyo kada taon na nagdudulot ng matinding pinsala sa ari-arian, kabuhayan at buhay ng mga Pilipino. Ngunit sa kabila ng banta ng climate

Read More »

Kasabwat sa patayan

 52,884 total views

 52,884 total views Mga Kapanalig, ganoon na lamang ba kababa ang pagpapahalaga natin sa buhay ng ating kapwa-tao na handa natin itong bawiin ng mga iniluluklok nating berdugo sa ngalan ng pagkakaroon ng payapa at ligtas na kapaligiran? Ganyan kasi ang mapapansin sa mga sentimiyento ng ilan nating kababayan habang isinasagawa ng Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee

Read More »

Walang magagawa o hindi handa?

 54,445 total views

 54,445 total views Mga Kapanalig, kasabay ng malakas na ulang dala ng Bagyong Kristine dalawang linggo na ang nakalilipas ang buhos ng batikos kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr.  Ika-23 ng Oktubre, kasagsagan ng pananalasa ng bagyo, nang bigyan ng situation briefing ng mga pinuno at kinatawan ng iba’t ibang ahensya si PBBM. Papalapit na noon ang

Read More »
catholink
Shadow
truthshop
Shadow

Related Story

Father Soc - Everyday Jesus
Most Rev. Socrates Villegas

3 Cs OF MARY

 8,821 total views

 8,821 total views Sunday is the Lord’s Day. Today is September 8, Sunday. It is also Mary’s day. When we have a choice between the Lord’s Day and Mary’s day, the Lord’s day takes priority. That is why the Mass is not the Mass for the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is the Mass celebrating the 234th

Read More »
Father Soc - Everyday Jesus
Most Rev. Socrates Villegas

Lord Save Us! We Are Perishing! (Matthew 8:25)

 23,871 total views

 23,871 total views Lord Save Us! We Are Perishing! (Matthew 8:25) Pastoral Letter for the Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan to be read as homily for all Masses for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, June 15 and 16, 2024  Beloved people of God in the Church of Lingayen Dagupan:  The threat is no longer imagined.  It is

Read More »
Father Soc - Everyday Jesus
Most Rev. Socrates Villegas

WOUNDED FOR LOVE

 27,884 total views

 27,884 total views I am sure you know at least one person who has left the Church due to a hurtful experience within it. This individual, once identifying as Catholic, has abandoned their religion because of disappointment with a priest or with people in the Church. Perhaps they encountered a priest who was unfaithful to his

Read More »
Father Soc - Everyday Jesus
Most Rev. Socrates Villegas

ASTONISHED

 54,590 total views

 54,590 total views In one short paragraph, Jesus astonished the people around Him for two significant reasons. Firstly, they were astounded by His preaching. Secondly, they were astounded by His healing. Why were they astonished by His preaching? Because He spoke only the truth. Truth possesses its own power. It requires no sugar coating. It needs

Read More »
Father Soc - Everyday Jesus
Most Rev. Socrates Villegas

ASTONISHED

 55,231 total views

 55,231 total views In one short paragraph, Jesus astonished the people around Him for two significant reasons. Firstly, they were astounded by His preaching. Secondly, they were astounded by His healing. Why were they astonished by His preaching? Because He spoke only the truth. Truth possesses its own power. It requires no sugar coating. It needs

Read More »
Father Soc - Everyday Jesus
Most Rev. Socrates Villegas

GOD DOES NOT LIKE MIRACLES

 55,231 total views

 55,231 total views By nature, we like miracles. When we hear about a miracle or read about it, we rush to the miracle site because we want to experience the supernatural through those miracles. Human beings probably like miracles a lot, but God does not like miracles. That is why miracles happen very rarely. God does

Read More »
Father Soc - Everyday Jesus
Most Rev. Socrates Villegas

DISBELIEF

 55,229 total views

 55,229 total views The story of Zechariah is our story as well. Zechariah received a blessing. We all have been blessed at one point or another in the past. After Zechariah received the blessing, his response was doubt. His response was fear. His response was disbelief. Isn’t that what we often do after we are blessed

Read More »
Father Soc - Everyday Jesus
Most Rev. Socrates Villegas

INSPIRATION!

 55,246 total views

 55,246 total views Once in a while, we come across children who have plenty of toys and children’s books, and yet go to their parents and say, “I am bored.” We see college students shifting from one course to another, not knowing what career path to take, and then they say life is boring. This attitude

Read More »
Father Soc - Everyday Jesus
Most Rev. Socrates Villegas

BLINDNESS

 55,276 total views

 55,276 total views The blind man could not see. That is a fact. Yet, he warns to me that even if he could sense or see with his being, he could not see with his eyes, but he could sense with his heart. That is why he immediately felt the disgust of the crowd. That is

Read More »
Father Soc - Everyday Jesus
Most Rev. Socrates Villegas

BE GRACIOUS

 55,556 total views

 55,556 total views In Grade 3, I learned a poem about good manners: Hearts, like doors, will open with ease With very, very little keys. But don’t forget that two of these Are thank you, sir, and if you please. People who are grateful, people who know how to say thanks sincerely, win the hearts of

Read More »
Father Soc - Everyday Jesus
Most Rev. Socrates Villegas

WHY DO YOU GIVE?

 56,210 total views

 56,210 total views Why do people give? Why do people do good things for other people? Unfortunately, our motivations are not always clear and good. Unfortunately also, we are not always aware of the impurity of our motives. Why do people give and why do people do good things for other people? The first motivation, unexpressed

Read More »
Father Soc - Everyday Jesus
Most Rev. Socrates Villegas

CLAY AND POTTER

 57,952 total views

 57,952 total views Most of us are familiar with the Serenity Prayer: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” The prayer has been adapted by many rehabilitation programs for dependents on drugs, alcohol, gambling, and even

Read More »
Father Soc - Everyday Jesus
Most Rev. Socrates Villegas

RESPECTFUL GOD

 58,940 total views

 58,940 total views Children are expected to respect their parents. Younger people are expected to respect their elders. The laity are expected to respect priests. The priests are expected to respect their bishops. And the principle is—the higher, the more experienced, the older, the more deserving of respect. If we follow the same principle, then God

Read More »
Father Soc - Everyday Jesus
Most Rev. Socrates Villegas

PRAYER IS STRENGTH

 59,365 total views

 59,365 total views Prayer is our strength. Prayer is a strong tool. Where does prayer get its strength? The strength of prayer does not come from the one who prays. The strength of prayer comes from the one to whom it is addressed. In other words, prayer does not become a strong tool because we pray.

Read More »

Latest Blogs

Scroll to Top