Not only does the priest publish peace but also salvation. men who are priests ofthe Catholic church have a great heritage. When Christ commissioned His Church He also gave it a great promise. That promise is fulfilled in all the sacraments ofthe Church, and especially in the Holy Communion: "Lo, 1 am with you always..." Christ also said. "he that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out". Like St. Paul, the priest is privileged by his inheritance, the Apostolic Commission to go forth and proclaim to those who have never known Christ. to those who have fallen by the wayside, to call to sinners and say, "This is a true saying and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners". The priests ofthe Church are the messengers of Him who said, ”Come unto me all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you."

Today the multitudes are repeating with the Psalmist, "My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living God." What a joy it is to be able to carry the message of hope to the souls that are restless and cast down, that their thirst may be quenched and they find their living God.

This brings us to the third part of the prophet's exclamation, "That saith unto Zion thy God reigneth." Jehovah had gone into captivity with His people and with His people He returned (Gore). In these days of unemployment and distress we find many people who doubt greatly whether God reigneth. This is the result oftheir own negligence and to some extent the negligence ofthe Church, When prosperity flourished men flew from pillar to post in search of worldly pleasures and happiness. They believed in God. God was their King. God was their Father. They accepted the creed of the Church, but blindly. As a result. today, when a great crisis has arrived. instead of having a faith well matured by study and prayer they have nothing. They rush offto the nightclub or some other excitement and for the time being the problem seems to be solved. But when things continue to go wrong they become discouraged, and with the fool they say in their heart, "There is no God." It is the greatestjoy ofthe preacher's life when he can carry to these empty and distracted people the message that their God reigneth. Many young men looking forward to the ministry think only of the intellectual side and become discouraged. But the message that we are to bring is not merely a verbal one. Not only must we tell of Christ but we must live Christ. Men can go forth proclaiming good tidings. celebrating the sacraments and leave the people cold and empty. Christ showed forth God by His life and faith. Was it whereby those last words from the Cross that made the centurion to glorify God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous man?" Rather. I think it was Christ's attitude towards those who were cmcifying Him, and His complete trust in God. The priests of the Church are not only messengers but also witnesses.

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