Yo-eleven!

Today is the 11th anniversary of my Priestly Ordination.

I love the last part of the Gospel for this morning's Mass: "There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written."  In other words, the Gospel contains just the highlights.

Most Priests have a "highlights reel" that plays in their head when they reminisce about their years of service.  But most of it, the day to day living, the daily Masses, confessions, hospital calls, home visits, school activities, youth group stuff, retreats, etc., is all a blur.  For all of us in ordained ministry, there are "many other things what we did" that have been forgotten or, shall we say, "misplaced" in our memories. They usually come out when someone stops us on line at the supermarket, or at the airport, or at a wedding reception or the repast after a funeral, when someone comes up to us and tells us about something we did years ago.

Both the 1st Reading and the Gospel this morning are left "open ended", whether it's the conclusion of John, telling us there's more to Jesus' story, or the conclusion of Acts, where Paul is preaching to the Jews of Rome (even whilst chained to a member of the Pretorian Guard).  Eleven years have gone by, but today, my twelfth year of Priesthood begins.