Tomorrow a young Canadian seminarian I have known since his birth will became a deacon. Next year, God willing, he will be ordained priest. His mother told me that she had prayed for his vocation for many years before that day when he came to her and confessed that he was planning to enter St Joseph’s seminary. She prayed in complete secrecy, so that the young man could choose freely. He did.
Why? Because he was chosen – just like the seventy two disciples of Jesus were over two thousand years ago. They were called and answered the call. They followed Jesus, watched Him and listened to His words. That was their “seminary”. Definitely shorter than my friend’s son was – but God himself was teaching the courses. Then the day came when they were sent – in twos, but without Jesus present bodily beside them. But they got His instructions. So did the generations upon generations of priests throughout two millennia.
How many times my friend’s son, this quiet, thoughtful seminarian has read and contemplated today’s Gospel reading? “The harvest is rich but the labourers are few…”. How well he knows this shortage of labourers.. ., half of the priests in his diocese are “on loan” from India or Africa or Poland. His is the first vocation among the Polish emigrees in our city since the second world war. Out of the several seminarians who began the 1st year of study, he alone reached the deaconate.
“I am sending you out like lambs among wolves”. How often has he read aggressive condemnation of the Church in press or other media. “When you watch a mystery movie, you can easily guess who will be a serial murderer or pedophile – the guy with a crucifix on his neck or a local priest”, he laughs with a touch of bitterness.
“Take no purse with you, no haversack, no sandals”. The priests in the West are not rich, contrary to the usual opinion. Material goods will not stand between this future priest and his parishioners. Hopefully even the very desire for wealth will not delay him in his service. He is used to modest means. His parents work hard despite both being over retirement age – just to make ends meet.
“Salute no one on the road.” These words of Jesus mean, I think (and maybe wrong), “avoid unnecessary distractions which can keep you from your essential goal: to take the Kingdom of God to men”. Surprisingly, this command usually gets little attention although it carries a serious message. It is very easy to became overly attracted to a hobby, or even study of a discipline not related to theology.
Over time our human fabric of fidelity to God tends to frizzle on the edges. It is easy to fall into this kind of idolatry when years of humble parish life wear one out. Still, I am sure that his parents’ prayers and strong formation in seminary will help him remember that he is the man whose main duty is to administer holy sacraments – all of them. With the sacraments comes God’s peace like no other.
“Whatever house you enter, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!” Six years down the road, many exams, retreats, countless Masses and confessions behind him, this young man has reached the first milestone. Mystery of being chosen and sent.
Martia Kozakiewicz