We're All Priests

I just finished one of 6 cumbersome papers required for my formation program. They centralize around ethical ministry and the role of a priest within his/her parish.

It occured to me, however, that we could all be in essence priests to one another. If we are living a moral and well-intentioned life, than the goals of helping each other is lived everyday. We try to lead by example both at work to our co-workers and/or employees and at home with our children. The idea being to practice what you preach or be true to what you believe. Most people attempt to do these things everyday, even if it is not exactly by conscious intent.

Granted many tend to only do this with those they like or love, and forget or ignore the people they do not know. It is something you see over and over again. A person will bend of backwards for their brother or sister, but ignore the needs of someone they pass on the street. Most choose to ignore the simple yet profound fact that all people are our brothers and sisters.

A priest then, is someone who chooses to model their lives in every moment, in every day after these ideals. They serve and make themselves available to anyone and everyone. They strive to help those in need, to be a shoulder to lean on or a sympathetic ear to another's problems. They try to live as an example of right living with honesty, integrity and spiritualness, ready to fight the good fight when called upon.

Does this then necessarily require the laying on of hands, of formation and ordination? No, not fundamentally. These things force/coax a person to look at every aspect of their lives and adapt them to a code of morals that they have formed during this process. It is a process that most do not do on their own, at least not completely. Also, it seems in the Western society with its importance on categories, classes and titles, that ordination (and even the outfit) lend themselves toward a certain authenticity. It is a little like, even if a woman appears pregnant, one does not comment until absolutely sure of it for fear of embarassment. Likewise, some people would not comfortably surrender their spiritual issues to a perfect stranger without the priestly distinction. It seems to say, here is one who will serve me in the name of God, with goodness and love. There is comfort in that, making a priest a stranger to no one and an aide to all.

In a perfect world, we would all be priests to one another. We have the capacity to do this but are without the motivation of understanding. If only the benefits were more readily understood. For myself, I find nothing more satisfying than helping another and seeing the gratitude in their eyes or even the simple act of showing a little loving kindness, knowing that I did my part to make their lives a little better if only for a moment, and through them, make the world a little brighter.