Homily for priestly anniversary (Numbers 11-11b-12, 14-17, 24-25a; Psalms 23:1-6; 2: Corinthians 4:1-2,5-7; Matthew 9:35-38)

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today, as we gather to celebrate this priestly anniversary, the Scripture readings speak profoundly to the vocation of priesthood—a calling that comes from God, is sustained by God, and leads others to God.

In the Gospel, we hear that Jesus "went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness." But what follows reveals the heart of Christ: "At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd."

This image of sheep without a shepherd resonates deeply with our first reading from Numbers. There, Moses cries out to the Lord: "Why are you so displeased with me that you burden me with all this people? Was it I who conceived all this people? Was it I who gave them birth, that you tell me to carry them at my breast, like a nurse carrying an infant?" Moses feels the weight of his responsibility and recognizes his human limitations.

These readings reveal the essence of priestly ministry: it is a divine calling to shepherd God's people, a responsibility too great for human strength alone, yet made possible through God's grace.

The priesthood is not a career one chooses from many options. It is a vocation—a divine summons. As Jesus tells his disciples in today's Gospel: "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest." The priest is sent by the Master of the harvest.

Saint John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, once said: "The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus." This love flows from Christ, through his priests, to his people. When the priest celebrates the sacraments, it is Christ who baptizes, Christ who forgives, Christ who consecrates. The priest, in his humanity, becomes an instrument of divine grace.

In our reading from Numbers, we see how God responds to Moses' plea: "I will take some of the spirit that is on you and put it on them; they shall bear the burden of the people with you." This prefigures the sacrament of Holy Orders, where the Spirit descends upon those called to priestly ministry, empowering them for service.

But this empowerment comes with humility. In the second reading, Saint Paul reminds us: "We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us." The priest is an earthen vessel—fragile, limited, and sinful—yet carrying within him the inestimable treasure of Christ's presence.

This paradox lies at the heart of priestly identity. The priest is simultaneously aware of his unworthiness and confident in God's grace. As Saint Augustine said when reflecting on his own priesthood: "For you I am a bishop, with you I am a Christian. The first is an office accepted; the second is a grace received."

The 23rd Psalm beautifully captures this relationship between the Divine Shepherd and his under-shepherds: "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack." Before the priest can shepherd others, he must first be shepherded by Christ. His strength comes not from himself but from the Lord who "refreshes his soul" and "guides him along right paths."

Pope Francis has often spoken of priests as "shepherds living with the smell of the sheep." This imagery evokes a priesthood of proximity and compassion—priests who, like Jesus, are moved with pity at the sight of people "troubled and abandoned." The priest walks alongside his flock through valleys of darkness, offering the comfort of God's rod and staff.

This anniversary celebration invites us to reflect on the journey of priesthood—its joys and challenges, its consolations and crosses. Every priest can echo Moses' question: "Why do you burden me with all this people?" And every priest, in moments of grace, can also proclaim with the psalmist: "You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."

The priesthood is indeed a cup that overflows—with both suffering and joy. The priest participates in the most sacred moments of people's lives: birth and death, forgiveness and healing, commitment and conversion. He witnesses both the beauty and brokenness of humanity. And through it all, he points not to himself but to Christ.

As Saint Paul reminds us: "We do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus." The true priest decreases so that Christ may increase. His ministry is marked by integrity, transparency, and selflessness—"we have renounced shameful, hidden things; not acting deceitfully or falsifying the word of God."

Today, as we honor the gift of priesthood, we remember that this vocation exists for the sake of the people. The priest is called to be, in the words of Saint Augustine, "a servant of Christ and a steward of the mysteries of God." He is entrusted with the sacred task of feeding Christ's flock—through Word and Sacrament, through counsel and compassion.

And so, on this anniversary, we give thanks for the gift of priesthood. We pray for all priests—that they may be good shepherds after the heart of Christ. We pray especially for those celebrating anniversaries—that they may continue to find joy in their vocation and strength for their ministry.

Let us conclude with the beautiful words of the 23rd Psalm: "Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come." May this be the experience of every priest—to dwell in the house of the Lord, to be sustained by divine goodness and kindness, and to lead others to that same dwelling place.

Amen.