The 'I' priests proclaim represents Christ

Published: May 06, 2006

Bishop J. Peter Sartain

Bishop J. Peter Sartain delivered this homily at the Mass for Jubilarians April 26 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew.

Last week I received an e-mail from my niece's fiancé, a young man I have known since he was a kid. He wrote to ask for information, but I told him I was responding with some "avuncular" advice. Avuncular? Look it up, I said. He did, and in his next e-mail he asked, "Is that a word Mrs. James taught you in senior English?"

He and I went to the same high school, and though I am much older than he, we had the same senior English teacher, the revered Mrs. James. Thirty-seven years ago, she pounded into our heads the rules governing punctuation, sentence construction and grammar. To this day, I think of her when proofreading something I have written. She also offered advice for proofreading correspondence. I can hear her soft voice, the essence of southern dignity, even now: "Watch the use of the word 'I.' If you begin every paragraph with that word, you are using it too often and making yourself the center of the correspondence." Ever since, I check to be sure I have not used "I" too much (as I have in this paragraph).

The lesson is a good one, no matter the context. Those who make themselves the center of the universe, consciously or unconsciously, are probably not happy, and those in their vicinity feel the unpleasant tug of their gravity. Life is not all about "me." The one who talks incessantly about his or her accomplishments quickly becomes a bore to others and misses the opportunity to befriend their goodness and celebrate their successes.

There is an interesting feature of priestly ministry, particularly sacramental ministry: We priests often say "I" or "My."

"I baptize you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit"

"I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

"This is my body, which will be given up for you. This is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant ... Do this in memory of me."

Even when the word is not there explicitly, it is there implicitly. The "I" of the priest is at work in every sacrament, in preaching the Word, in the ministry of charity and in every priestly act.

But the "I" of the priest is not his personally. It is the "I" of Christ, for it is he who is at work in the priest, he who is loving his people through the priest, he who is shepherding the flock for whom he gave his life. When the priest says "I" in ministry, truly Christ is the "I" who is speaking.

In his homily for the Mass of Chrism at St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Benedict XVI said that the priesthood of the Old Covenant became something entirely new in Christ:

"... it was no longer a question of lineage but of discovering oneself in the mystery of Jesus Christ. He is always the One who gives, who draws us to himself.

"He alone can say: 'This is my Body ... this is my Blood.' The mystery of the priesthood of the Church lies in the fact that we, miserable human beings, by virtue of (the sacrament of holy orders) can speak with his 'I': in persona Christi. He wishes to exercise his priesthood through us."

We priests pronounce the words of Jesus not as one who merely quotes a famous person but as his very breath and voice, his instrument, through whom he addresses his people. As men who share his priesthood, our "I" becomes his "I." Because of ordination, his "I" is always at work in us, even when we are away from our duties, even when we are at rest or relaxation. That is precisely why the words of John the Baptist find a permanent echo in us: He must increase, I must decrease.

This year's jubilarians represent 310 years of combined priestly service, and through them Christ -- in person -- has cared for his beloved flock. Thousands of people have sought them out for sacraments, for counsel, for support, for encouragement, for a vast array of spiritual care; each time, they have encountered Christ himself. It is an interesting but telling fact that when an ordained minister gives a blessing, he does not say, "May Almighty God bless us." Rather, he says, "May Almighty God bless you." The reason is that the priest or deacon is speaking in the person of Christ. The "I" who is Christ is blessing the "you" who are his people.

Father Enderlin, Father Denis, Father Camillus, Father Victor, Father Clayton, Father Mike, Father Jose and Msgr. Marczuk, thank you for giving yourself so completely to our Lord that he has used you so magnificently in your ministry. His "I" is clear in your love and commitment, your words and your sacrifice. I am sure that not all the moments of those years have been easy, but you have persevered in Christ, because you know that he who joined himself to you at ordination will never leave you or abandon his people. Clearly he is in you for our sakes.

By the way, "avuncular" means "uncle-like." I had to ask its meaning when I first heard it in conversation. Last week I told my niece's fiancé that he can expect more avuncular advice as the years go by.

Do you have an intention for Bishop Sartain's prayer? If so, send it to him at Bishop Sartain's Prayer List, Diocese of Little Rock, 2500 North Tyler St., P.O. Box 7239, Little Rock, AR 72217.