Past Reflections

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June 06, 2010 - 25 Years in the Cloth

by Father Edward L. Beck, C.P.

If you'll indulge me this week, I'd like to make this Moment a bit personal.  This weekend I celebrate being ordained a priest for 25 years.  Yeah, my Silver Jubilee.  And like everyone who reaches any kind of milestone, I wonder where has the time gone.  I've now been a priest more than half of my life.  It's a sobering thought.  Yet also a wonderful one because so much blessing has come to me because of it.  As you know in recent years priesthood has taken some real hits.  The abuse scandal has marred the public perception of priests.  And even though abusers are a small handful of sick men, priesthood itself has been maligned and misunderstood because of them.  I'm happy to be able to take some time this weekend to celebrate the gift that priesthood has been to me.  And hopefully the gift it has enabled me to be for others.  I've had amazing opportunities because of my role as priest.  But the most cherished ones have been the trust others have placed in me with their most cherished concerns, hopes and dreams.  Being a priest has given me instant intimacy with people who've shared their joy and pain with me without even knowing who I am.  I've sat in a confessional and had people tell me their deepest secrets and struggles hoping that I could be an agent of forgiveness and healing. I pray I have been.  I've welcomed infants into our community. I've buried the dead.  And I've preached a Gospel that I have found to be life-giving and expanding.  Who could ask for more than that?  Not me.  And so I'm thankful for the gift this ministry has been in my life.  And for the many along the way who've trusted me enough to be an agent of God's love and grace.  I've received much more than I've given.  So here's to the next 25 years. God willing. 

To watch Father Beck give the above Reflection, click here.