Attributes of Priesthood

“I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you—For God has not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (II Timothy 1:6)

Our Church is passing through a crisis of Spirit that has affected and infected so many faithful Orthodox Christians in these days of our lives. It’s natural to look to our leaders, the hierarchy and priests throughout the continent for leadership and guidance. They might find comfort and inspiration from St. Paul as he encouraged his disciple whom he loved to the degree that he called him his son by adoption. Note the way he began that second letter to Timothy by reminding him of who he is by ordination and the gifts imparted to him when he had been set apart for the ministry of Christ.

“Stir up [anazoperein] the gift of God.” Ignite the fire that brought you to ordination. Recall what it felt like to experience the glorious work of the Holy Spirit at that time. It’s still there; it only needs some poking at the ember of your soul. To be set aside for a special purpose in the priesthood means that you cannot slip backward into an ordinary way of life. It’s there, and prayer will revive it. And when the feeling comes back into your heart, these are the attributes you will rediscover:

Courage. “God has not given us a spirit of fear.” So many priests have a great deal to communicate and they write full of fury and conviction, only to sign their reflections: Anonymous. They fear exposure, loss of their parish, maybe even their priesthood. Or they grumble in close quarters with trusted colleagues but do nothing else for the good of the Church. Consider the brave priests in Russia during the Soviet era of oppression, men who risked their very lives for daring to speak the truth to the tyrants who ruled the nation.

Power. A real Christian, especially those set apart for sacred office, are blessed with the strength to stand tall in the face of any storm of abuse or threat, not like lobsters in a tub of flour, as the proverb has it. They have bowed their heads and welcomed the yoke of Christ, so that they can shoulder any burden and thank the loving Lord for the confidence He placed the them to do His work here on earth. They have the energy to deal with the sorrows of those entrusted to their care. They lead those overwhelmed by grief to hope and confidence that God’s plan is being worked out regardless of our inability to comprehend and cope with it. The priest can never break down or break apart.

Love is the cure for all suffering, anguish, pain and confusion. Love heals every wound, alleviates all distress, solves every problem and wipes every tear. Everyone should be aware that the priest has in his spiritual possession a plentiful and unlimited source of empathy, understanding, comfort and affection at his disposal, because the constant supply is renewed by his ongoing access to Jesus Christ through his prayers.

Sound mind (sophronismos). It’s the sensible and sensitive attribute of a true priest who has the self-control never to indulge in anger or panic. Kipling described it thus: “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you; if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, yet give allowance for their doubting, too”—(If). We are so fortunate to have as role model for these virtues Christ Himself, who never asked of us something that He was not able to do.