22nd Thursday "No Women Priests"

We know from Sacred Scripture, Peter had two callings. At the first calling, Peter and his brother Andrew were casting their nets into the sea, when Our Blessed Lord said to them, “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.” Although he abandoned his nets, he continued to work at his job, as a fisherman, and listened to Our Lord’s teachings. Peter accompanied Jesus on several occasions and even witnessed the changing of the water into wine at the wedding Feast of Cana. He would have seen first hand the powerful intercession of Our Lord’s Mother.

The definitive call of Peter after Jesus told Peter, “Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Even though, they had caught nothing, all night, Peter was obedient, and, in doing so, caught such a great number of fish, the nets were at the breaking point. Peter fell to his knees saying, “Leave me, Lord for I am a sinful man.” Jesus responds, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will be catching men.”

Because Peter chose to be a follower of Jesus, it resulted in Peter being given the keys of the kingdom. He became the leader of the apostles, and the head of the Church. Jesus personally appeared to Peter by himself, and several times with the other disciples, until Our Lord ascended into heaven. Our Lord’s words came true that Peter would be catching men, on the day of Pentecost. Because on the Pentecost, after the Holy Spirit had fallen on Peter and the apostles, he gave a sermon which converted some 3000 in a single day.

Jesus continues to call young men to be His Disciples as priests and many are responding to zealously follow Jesus. This fall, our diocese has 47 seminarians, who answered the call of Jesus to become fishers of men.

In the recent past, in the United States, we have heard about some women who have ordained each other as priests, but this action is contrary to the tradition of the Church. In fact, Pope Benedict said women’s ordinations are a grave sin and Pope Francis said for those involved in the ordination of women are excommunicated.

Women who promote women’s ordinations, desire power and authority, which can never be given to them from the one who gives it, who is God. It’s just not God’s will.

If Jesus would have wanted women to be priests, He would have ordained His Mother at the Last Supper, She who was the first and most perfect disciple. The so called, “ordination of women” blurs the beauty of a woman’s role in following Jesus, as bride of Christ as a religious sister. For a woman, there can be no greater joy than to be the spouse of Jesus. Many women religious will receive a wedding ring on the day they make their solemn profession as a sign they are wedded to Christ.

Today, let us pray for our seminarians and for our priests, that they may put out into the deep and catch many for the kingdom of God and let us pray for women religious that their spousal relationship with Jesus through their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, will be a witness to the world-- of that kingdom which is come—in heaven.