FAITHFULNESS TO GOD'S PLAN | KAIROS GLOBAL | MAY 2023

Author: Fr Joseph Mookkenthottathil

I thank him who has given me strength for this, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful by appointing me to his service (1 Timothy 1:12). We know that life is a precious gift of God. He created us in his own image and likeness. The creator has a plan about the creature; God’s plan for a person is his/her ‘call’. When someone responds to this call, it becomes their purpose of life. As a priest of Christ I found my purpose of life in the call to priesthood. 

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit (John 15:16). Personally this is my conviction that Jesus Christ chose me and judged faithful. If I consider the choice as my own, and myself worthy of it, then I am on the wrong path. I am clear that my vocation to priesthood is God’ choice. Here, the response to it is important. My response to this call is a big yes, which is how I became a priest of Christ.

As a priest, it is very important that I live according to his call – to do what I should to fulfil my purpose of life. The primary aspect of priestly life is faithfulness to his call. When God is faithful to his plan and has judged me faithful, how can I live according to my own will? God wants us to be faithful to his will. The history of Israel shows how they were unfaithful to God’s commandments and that they perished. If we are unfaithful to God, our life also becomes a big failure. Therefore faithfulness towards his call is the purpose of life.

In my personal life I try to be faithful to his call. Through the celebration of holy mysteries, through my personal prayer, by practising justice, approaching everyone without prejudice, being open to hear anyone, openness to corrections and readiness to pardon. As a parish priest I am called to be available to everyone at any time. It is actually a selfless service. We do not have much personal time in our ministry. We are always with the people. Jesus gave us the perfect example of always being with the people while at the same time in communion with his Father. Like so, this communion with our Lord is the power source for our activities. Keeping this bond with Jesus through prayer and being involved in all activities of the parish with a spirit of love to remain in faithfulness. For me it is the best way to fulfil my purpose of life. [God] chose us in [Jesus] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will (Ephesians 1:4-5).

Fr Joseph Mookkenthottathil is the Assistant Vicar of St George Forane Church Aruvithura in Kerala, India.