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| When a Priest Dies, What Happens Next? |
For a long time, I never gave it much thought.
I had never lost a priest before, so it never crossed my mind. But then, it
happened.
It was around 7 p.m. when the news broke, our
parish priest had passed away. Calls were made immediately, and within minutes,
people gathered at the parish. Prayers were offered. Tears were shed. By 9
p.m., everyone returned home.
I assumed that since we had lost our parish
priest, there would be no Mass the next day. I convinced myself that everything
would pause, at least for a while.
But to my surprise, I was told the next morning
that the bishop had already sent another priest. He came and celebrated Mass.
Just like that?
I was shocked.
He had baptized us, counselled the troubled,
visited the sick, buried the dead, and stood at the altar every Sunday. His
voice was all over the church. And yet, within hours of his passing, another
voice had taken his place.
At first, I felt uncomfortable. How could
things move on so quickly? Shouldn't there be a pause, a moment where
everything stands still in his honour?
That was when I realized something unsettling, not
just about the Church, but about life itself.
A priest spends years building a church
community, guiding souls, and standing at the altar. Yet, when he dies, his
absence does not stop the Mass, nor does it halt the mission of the Church.
The bishop sent another priest, not because our
late parish priest didn’t matter, but because the work of God must continue.
The people must not be left without a shepherd.
So, while mourning our late Parish Priest,
another was administering the sacraments to us.
The truth is, the world does not pause for
anyone. If you leave today, another will take your place.
We are all replaceable. No matter how important
we may seem to be.
What's even more humbling is: You’d be shocked
to know how many people secretly wish for your position. Some even pray for
your exit.
It’s a hard reality, but it should make us
reflect if we can be replaced so easily, then what truly matters?
The answer is simple: Value.
Being replaceable is inevitable. But being
forgettable? That’s a choice.
Some people leave, and the world barely notices. Others leave, and their absence is felt for generations.
What kind of person will you be?
As for me, I choose to live a life of value, one
so strong that whoever replaces me will struggle to measure up.
A call for reflection.
That's just it!
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