Talking about preachers, especially about our priests and pastors, we can produce a lot of terms that can define their variety. I always presume that preachers have their own messages to convey and most of them, if not all, were trained to become effective and eloquent speakers. Most of them have the talent to relay their messages to their listeners with conviction and with an unquestionable authority. However, as days go by, people are slowly becoming aware on the substance of the massage, and not on the convincing power or on the authority of the preacher.
I had been a priest for almost twenty-four years now and that was also the length of my preaching vocation. There were moments when I tried to stop myself from speaking about a moral topic because what I say goes back to my face immediately. There were times when I talk a lot about things to which I am not an authority. Sometimes I will preach about inspiring things when I was feeling so low and hopeless. Yes, I preached about a lot of moral issues which I failed to live. For as long as there is logic in what you say, people will always admire your preaching and end up with a loud applause.
The Episcopal Motto of our Bishop-Elect, the third Bishop of Virac, Most. Rev. Luisito Occiano, made an impact on me while thinking about what to write in this column. “To preach with Joy” is to preach with the heart of Christ! To preach with joy is to say the truth in all things, whether it can be hurtful or not, whether it can restore or destroy our relationships. Preaching with joy is nothing else but telling your listeners about the truth in our situation and offer a remedy to that situation, a remedy that is always grounded on our Christian faith. A remedy that will make our lives at peace because we know by heart that the will of God is observed.
One of the most challenging aspects in a life of a priest, or a preacher like me is to “practice what you preach.” It is like going out of yourself, forgetting your ambitions and worldly goals in life even if it is the practical way of living your life. As I have said, in my younger years as a priest, I always tried to avoid preaching about those things and issues that will jump back at me. But, doing so is not being faithful to the promise that I had made when I was ordained. So, I changed my style and started to preach even if it will ricochet on me. I do not care what people will think about my thoughts, ideas, and sermons for as long as they are grounded on the teachings of our Lord. Besides, with the grace of God, I know that it can be an inspiration for me to continue what I had begun. A challenge that I must willingly accept because that is the kind of life that I have dreamed of from the beginning, and I am so happy that God had chosen me for this ministry of service to his people.
People are scandalized when their pastors go out of their way as a pastor. I know that there are so many temptations surrounding the life of a cleric. Struggling against those temptations is not an easy thing to accomplish especially in this world that has gotten so in love with riches, power, and fame. Success is always gauged by the amount of wealth that we have under our control. People are fighting each other just to be on top of their own materialistic world. This kind of competition is not healthy, and priests like me, can also get lured and destroyed by these worldly temptations.
To practice what I preach would mean I have to be humble. It means that I must learn how to genuinely love without expecting anything in return. It would mean that I must be ready to let go of those things that are important to me if the time comes. It is a decision to forget about the enticements of this material world and a genuine commitment to just do what must be done for the good of the Church. Indeed, I must be willing to forget about my personal plans and ambitions and submit myself to God’s will and to the mission of Jesus Christ. Doing so is simply preaching with joy in your heart.