Readings for Nov. 16-17, Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Edward Looney | For On Mission
We have been reading from the Letter to the Hebrews over the last several weeks. Verse by verse has revealed to us the ministry of the priesthood and Christ’s eternal priesthood.
While the priesthood today might look different than what the author of the letter had experienced or was writing about, the priesthood today is a participation in a long line of priestly characters. As the psalmist once wrote, “You are a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4).
The Letter to the Hebrews says today, “Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices.”
Jesus modeled the priesthood for his apostles, who invited others into the ministry. Over the course of centuries, countless priests have stood daily at their ministry, following Christ’s call, offering the Mass and hearing confessions.
As a priest, I often look to the example of heroic and saintly priests. I am inspired by their lives and grateful for their prayers of intercession. I think of St. John Vianney, often asking myself, “How did he pray for and serve his parishioners?”
I try to model my life after these saintly priests. One who has inspired me greatly recently was Servant of God Fr. Willie Doyle, a Jesuit priest who was an Irish World War I military chaplain. As I read his life and letters, I was inspired to be a holier and better priest.
I think also of the priests who have inspired me throughout the years. Local priests who have served in our diocese. I remember Fr. Paul Schumacher, who would fill in at my home parish when the pastor was away. He was quite memorable. As an altar server, I would witness him walk into the sacristy, carrying his briefcase with the iconic musty smell. He would pull out his alb and his homily typed on a typewriter. He was faithful to the end.
I think of Fr. Tony Dolski, who also filled in at my home parish and helped at the Shrine in Champion, years before it was approved. He always carried his breviary with him. At his funeral Mass, one of his relatives commented on how he would step away from family functions to pray the breviary. He fulfilled his promise to pray the Divine Office daily for the people of God. If you ever attended a Mass with Fr. Tony, he would always emphatically and slowly say the words, “This is my body; this is my blood.”
Just as these priests of the past served faithfully, so does your pastor today. He might be a home-grown priest or a priest who left his home to serve our need for priests. They share in the priesthood of Jesus and stand daily at their ministry, available 24 hours a day, to anoint and bring a soul home to God at the hour of death.
Many people can tell an inspiring story of a priest who was there for them when they needed them the most. A line from a homily may have stayed with you for years or his counsel helped you through a difficult moment.
For this daily ministry, we are grateful. As a priest, I am grateful to share in this priesthood of Jesus, bringing his love to God’s holy people.
Fr. Looney serves as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawano, and priest celebrant at St. Martin of Tours Parish in Cecil. He is the author of the new book “Praying with the Church Through Advent.”
The readings for Sunday, Nov. 17, can be found at Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB.
