The road we're building
I love learning languages. I love learning about other
cultures. I love visiting other
cultures and experiencing what they have to offer (do I sound like a former
foreign language teacher?!) but at the end of the day… I am an American.
There’s a certain way in which things are done that are my preferred way of
doing things. Road building is one of them.
If you’ve ever been to Europe, specifically, parts that were
once dominated by the Roman Empire, than you’re no stranger to the cobblestone
roads. Even today, there are cobblestone roads that remain in parts of the
Eternal City. Because some of them lack levity, sometimes they are bumpy and
pot-holey roads, which makes them hard to walk on, easy to trip on, and can make
anyone consider going into the field of podiatry! (You’d make bank!) In my
opinion, a lot of these roads need
to be torn up, evenly leveled, and then paved over…but for understandable reasons, these cobblestone roads are valued
as part of Roman history that is to be preserved. They add a certain charm to
the city, regardless of how they make your feet feel at the end of the day. So,
when they start to deteriorate, I can understand why the city makes sure to
[eventually] repair them. And whether I like it or not, these roads are here
for the long haul. So while I would love to see this done to the roads I walk
daily:
The City of Rome, at least in some areas of the city, prefers
to do this:
And how is it that these roads, which have been known to
give blisters to feet not accustomed to walking their rigidity, are today serving
as a source of inspiration for my blog? Well…it made me think about my journey
towards the priesthood.
In considering the “road problem”, I realized that the
biggest benefit I see in just paving
the road was that it’s fast and (relatively) easy. You pour the asphalt, drive
over it to level it out, give it a few hours and cars are driving on it later
that day…
The cobblestone method on the other hand seems so time-consuming. Each stone needs to
be tapped into place slowly and carefully. There is such precision and
meticulousness put into positioning the stones into the “fan” shape as you tap them into place. The
worker has a hammer and just goes tap-tap-tap to each stone---- one. at. a. time…woof!
I’ve realized that the way in which I can sometime approach
my journey toward the priesthood is more in keeping with the first (American)
method of road building. I want to just pour the asphalt on the surface and
drive ASAP. I can’t wait to be out in a parish and diving into parish life and
all the ups and downs that come with it. I
just want to put down that asphalt so I can start using that road [or if you
will…Priesthood Parkway!]
Sometimes though I have to pause because it becomes
very clear to me that God’s approach toward the priesthood is more in line with
the tap-tap-tap of the cobblestone building method. In Her wisdom, the Church
has a period of preparation [i.e. Seminary] before a man is considered for the
Sacrament of Holy Orders. I’ve been graced with two and a half years of
formation thus far, and I’ve another three and a half until that day when, God
willing, I stand before my Bishop to present myself for Holy Orders. In
thinking about how enthused I am about getting into a parish, I thought to
myself, “Why do you want to rush this precious formation time? Do you want your
road [i.e. your priesthood] built on something that was rushed through just so
you could drive on it, or do you want it built on something that took time,
work, effort, and is made to last?” Of course the answer is the latter…
God knows what my
road [i.e. my priesthood] will look like…but He’s not in any rush for the road
to be finished today. Why? Because He knows it will get done in due time!
He’s got the tools needed to help
build my road, and He’s laid out the
plan. He’s now working on the
road---putting each piece in place and going tap-tap-tap.
I know that the road [priesthood] God is building with me
is going to be a beautifully breathtaking one and as much as I want to get out
there on Priesthood Parkway right now—I have to be patient, take a deep breath
and let God keep going tap-tap-tap, until the road is complete.
On June 23, 2013 Cardinal Seán received me as a Candidate
for Holy Orders. He asked me the following (the red bolding is my doing):
Cardinal O’Malley:
Beloved sons, the pastors and teachers in charge of your formation, and
others who know you, have given a favorable account of you, and we have full
confidence in their testimony. In response to the Lord’s call, do you resolve to
complete your preparation so that in due time through Holy Orders you will be
prepared to assume ministry within the Church?
Aspirants: I do.
If God is calling me to the priesthood, which I strongly believe He is, then I need to take this time that He is blessing me with in seminary to work with him to build a really great road!
After my response "I do", Cardinal Seán asked a second question about preparing for the priesthood and concluded by receiving me as a Candidate for Holy Orders by saying, “The Church accepts your resolve with joy. May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.”
And I respond as happily today as I did back in June... “Amen”.
Praised be Jesus Christ…
--KPL
(HAHAHAHA----As I was getting ready to post this to my blog, a brother
seminarian who is celebrating his 22nd birthday today posted a
Facebook status thanking the Mayor of Rome for the best birthday present; the
removing of the cobblestone streets from busy areas of Rome! http://www.wantedinrome.com/news/2002739/marino-to-remove-rome-s-sampietrini.html)
Comments
Post a Comment