![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/613\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-NR20PgQD9wc\/Vldljoy1wgI\/AAAAAAAAEZg\/siv9reqnd2g\/s320\/DSC06676.JPG\")
<\/a><\/div>\n[Written for The Southern Cross<\/i>]<\/p>\n
My first emergency call to the hospital as a priest came just a few days after arriving to my first parish assignment. \u00a0I carefully placed my brand new container with fresh oil in my shirt\u2019s pocket and I held the official Pastoral Care of the Sick green prayer book in my hand. \u00a0I took the elevator to the intensive care unit.<\/p>\n
As I entered the unit after having called the nurses station, I heard a man say after we made eye contact, \u201cGood. \u00a0The priest is here.\u201d \u00a0He was anxiously waiting for the priest. \u00a0He was not waiting for a specific priest whether old or young, experienced or new, but a priest. \u00a0The middle aged man led me to the room where his wife lay connected to a series of beeping machines that kept her alive. \u00a0I said prayers and anointed the dying woman. \u00a0When I was done, the man thanked me profusely and I left. \u00a0Before I knew it I was back in my car driving back to the parish to continue the day\u2019s work. \u00a0I never saw or heard from the family again.<\/p>\n
Rather than driving back to the office where I had left in the middle of a meeting, I headed to the Blessed Sacrament chapel of the parish. \u00a0I sat and asked in prayer, \u201cLord, where were you in such a sad and tragic moment? \u00a0Where were you while this woman\u2019s children cried from the inconsolable pain of losing their mother? \u00a0Where were you?\u201d<\/p>\n
The answer to my questions shook me and taught me lifelong lesson about the priesthood. \u00a0God was there through the priest. \u00a0God was there through the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. \u00a0While caught up with my own questions and sadness, I had failed to see God at work through the priest.<\/p>\n
Today a parishioner mentioned how it must be difficult to tend to a dying person be it at the hospital or at home. \u00a0I agreed, it is difficult. \u00a0Nobody enjoys seeing a person die or seeing a family stricken with grief. \u00a0Yet, it is at these difficult moments that the priest channels the light of Christ into the darkness of death and sorrow. \u00a0The priest becomes the presence of Jesus bringing hope and consolation in the midst of loss and distress. \u00a0This transforms tending to the dying into a blessing and a privilege.<\/p>\n
During this month of November we remember the faithful departed. \u00a0We remember all those who have gone before us, especially our loved ones. \u00a0We trust that Christ\u2019s light has conquered the darkness of the experience of death, allowing us to remain hopeful that we will see them again when we join the multitude of saints around the throne of God in heaven. \u00a0Death has lost its sting, and as priests, we experience and give witness to this reality daily.<\/p>\n
Pictures are mine, all rights reserved<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
[Written for The Southern Cross] My first emergency call to the hospital as a priest came just a few days after arriving to my first parish assignment. \u00a0I carefully placed my brand new container with fresh oil in my shirt\u2019s pocket and I held the official Pastoral Care of the Sick green prayer book in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2533,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/a><\/div>\n