What Attracted Me to the Priesthood

In today's Gospel Jesus encounters the crowd and has compassion on them. It's important for us to see what happens next. Jesus doesn't get discouraged because of the number of needy people, yet that would be an understandable reaction. How can one man minister to so many? Instead he gathers the twelve and sends them out to heal the physical and spiritual maladies of the people. Our Catholic tradition has always held that these twelve men were the first bishops and priests ordained and sent by Jesus. This helps us to appreciate that the priesthood itself is a sign and expression of Jesus's great love for his people. He desires his people to experience the healing that they need through the heart of the priest, which has been marked by Christ's own heart through his ordination. As St. John Vianney said, "The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus!"