A Royal Priesthood
Fifth Sunday of Easter, 2020
Readings for Year A: Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 32; I Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12
This Sunday’s readings are very rich, there are many things one could think about. However, I want to focus on something which might get missed in the midst of these riches. This is something we find in the second reading from the First Letter of St Peter.
One of the things that can seem a little bit incongruous when we baptise babies is the anointing with the oil chrism which immediately follows the baptism. Part of the new life which the child receives is to share in the mission of Christ. This is what the prayer of anointing brings out as we talk about the baby sharing in the life of Christ as priest, prophet and king. As I say, that seems odd for a small helpless baby. However, there two considerations. One is that we are looking forward to the child living out the baptism it has received, especially as it receives the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. However, the second is that this sharing in the mission of Christ which the child does by virtue of being part of the Church. As Peter tells us we are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart to sing the praises of God”. We are those “living stones” gathered together and founded on the “keystone” who is Christ.
We often think of priesthood in terms of the ministerial priesthood of people like me. However, that is one expression of the priesthood of the Church. The ministerial priest is ordained by the Church and in virtue of that presides at the Eucharist. It is not because of some special talents or virtues of his own, it is because he is acting in the person of Christ in the name of the Church. We are all part of the priesthood of the Church.
The obvious way we express this is through our participation in the Mass. We join together as the Church to follow the command of Christ to “do this in memory of me” and to receive him in Holy Communion. It is there above all that we “sing the praise of God”.
In the present situation we are not able to gather together to celebrate. At most perhaps we can watch the celebration of Mass being livestreamed. How then can we be a royal priesthood, sharing in the mission of Christ, here and now. One way is suggested by Peter, we are there to “sing the praises of God who has called us out of darkness into his wonderful light”. We can remind ourselves that we are in this time of Easter, that we can celebrate our sharing in the resurrection of Christ and ask to be able to see things in the light of that resurrection. When we stop and give thanks to God we are part of that royal priesthood.
However, sharing in the ministry of Christ as part of the Church is wider than that. Peter talks about the “spiritual sacrifices which Jesus Christ has made acceptable to God”. We are called to offer ourselves to God. This is something we do in the Eucharist but it is then lived out our lives. That is something we can do whatever our situation as we seek to live out the Christian life in the everyday reality of our lives.
So, even though we are not able to gather for the Eucharist let us remember that we are part of the Church we are part of that Royal Priesthood. Let us give praise to God and offer ourselves to Him as we are called to do as part of our baptism.
Fr Chris Pedley, S.J.