A Son's Heart

​This dimension of the priest’s heart is very important to his pastoral ministry. A true experience of God the Father will be essential for the priest to help him recognize himself as father of his flock – his brothers and sisters in Christ. In order to be a father, the priest has to be a son first; a son who commits mistakes and asks for forgiveness; a son who trusts and loves his father; a son who humbly accepts to be corrected; a son who responds with respect and love. Being a son of God is not as easy as some may say. Being a son entails certain responsibilities and rights. Being a son or a daughter is our first vocation (calling) when we’re born. We’re part of the Mystical Body of Christ, therefore, we are children of God in the Son. It is through Christ that we can be called children of God. This takes place through our Baptism, which confers an indelible seal upon our soul. The priest acts always according to God, “for from Him and through Him and for Him are all things” (Rm. 11:36).

“See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed* we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 Jn 3: 1-2).

(Original article and image: ​https://catholic-link.org/seven-hearts-of-a-priest/)