Oct 5 Sun
Is each Christian a priest?
The connection between the two parts of today’s gospel – increase our faith and serve Christ – is that, if we want a stronger faith, we should dedicate ourselves to doing God’s will.
To achieve this, God constituted the chosen people, the Church, as “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
There are two ways of participating in the one priesthood of Christ:
- The common priesthood of the faithful, which is conferred through Baptism and Confirmation
- The ministerial priesthood of the ordained minister, which is at the service of the common priesthood of the faithful.
The faithful exercise their baptismal priesthood through their participation, each according to his own vocation, in Christ’s mission as priest, prophet, and king. They do so by offering up their lives and work, by living and proclaiming the truth, and by carrying out all the requirements of justice. In everything, they try to conform to the will of God.
In other words, Christ gives us a share in his work. He makes our activity part of his activity.
Our common priesthood is exercised by the unfolding of baptismal grace—a life of faith, hope, and charity, a life according to the Spirit; the ministerial priesthood serves the common priesthood by directing that unfolding of the baptismal grace of all Christians.
Christ gives us the means by which we share in his priesthood: grace.
Thus, we are priests, prophets, and kings! See the great importance God gives us.
For the laity, all their works, prayers, and apostolic undertakings, family and married life, daily work, relaxation of mind and body, if they are accomplished in the Spirit—indeed even the hardships of life if patiently borne—all these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. In the celebration of the Eucharist, these may most fittingly be offered to the Father along with the body of the Lord.
The sacrifice we offer to God is our lives. At the Offertory of the Mass, we can say to Our Lord, “I offer you this week.” And you can add who you would like to offer it for.
The laity live the prophetic role of Christ by evangelization, both by the proclamation of Christ by word and the testimony of life.
Our good example of doing the right thing (“carrying out all the requirements of justice”) is a powerful proclamation in itself. The other proclamation is the apostolate, to bring those around us close to God.
If our lives are good, our actions testify to Christ's authenticity. And faithfulness to Christ is the reason we try to make our lives good.
The laity live the royal role of Christ through self-mastery and helping to conform society to the demands of the Gospel through justice.
In our kingship, our first subject must be ourselves. Then, as good kings and queens, we fulfill all our responsibilities. We live out justice and charity toward all.