Francis Gonsalves

If I told you “You’re a priest”, you’d either laugh or send me to a psychiatrist. But I’m neither joking nor have I gone crazy; for, the Bible suggests that everyone, in some manner and measure, is created to be a priest. It matters not whether you’re blissfully meditating atop the Himalayas or busily mediating at the stock exchange. The Biblical concept of “common priesthood” is relevant to all.
The Bible speaks of God making a pact with people. The content of this covenant is condensed in the Book of Exodus, which says: “You shall be a priestly kingdom and a holy nation” (19:6). God expects people to be priestly and holy since we’re all created by God, and just as a child naturally reflects the goodness of his/her parents, so must you and I reflect God’s holiness. The Book of Leviticus quite simply says: “You shall be holy, for I, God, am holy” (19:1).
In the pre-Christian era, many patriarchs, prophets and kings performed priestly tasks. For instance, Abraham offered sacrifice to God (Genesis 22:13), Prophet Moses spoke God’s word to the people and mediated at the sacrificial altar (Exodus 24:3-8) and King David offered sacrifices, blessed the people and distributed food to them (2 Samuel 6:17-19) much as a pujari offers prasad to devotees. Indeed, the roles of priest and king coalesce in David whom God reminds: “You are a priest forever” (Psalm 110:4).
From the above it seems that popular leaders, heads of families and kings — besides, of course, the “professional priests” — all served God as priests. Their tasks were basically three: (a) communicating God’s word to people; (b) offering sacrifices and performing rituals; (c) taking care of the general welfare of all people as visible representatives of the Invisible God: Loving Parent of us all.
Studying Jesus’ words and works in the four Gospels, one is struck by the dearth of references to priests. In fact, Jesus mentions priest just once in the Gospel of Luke, when, in his famous “Good Samaritan” parable (10:29-37), he portrays a priest not as a hero but as a villain. Reason? This priest avoids caring for a wounded traveller attacked by robbers. The point that Jesus stresses is that priests must be more concerned with compassion and caring than with legalistic do’s and don’ts and rigid rituals. “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”, said He (Matthew 9:13).
Among the “letters” in the Bible, there’s one to the Hebrews whose anonymous author presents Jesus as a priest. One prayer from Christ’s lips is striking: “Offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me… O God, I have come to do your will!” (10:5-6). Here, Jesus is regarded as priest neither because he busied himself “professionally” with rituals nor because he belonged to some blue-blooded family, but because he sacrificed his whole being in loving God and caring for all God’s children.
India is truly a punyabhoomi (holy land) that has birthed matas, mullahs, gurus, priests and pujaris by the thousand. Their three tasks, as seen earlier, can be summarised as: speaking God’s word, offering sacrifices and caring for all. You might assume that this is best done by holy brahmacharis — literally meaning “those who walk in Brahman, God” — who, in extended sense, become limbs (anga) of God. But aren’t you — who teach the unlettered, till the land and tend the sick — also God’s anga: God’s mouth, hands, feet, body? Truly, in your teaching, tilling, trading and tending, you are priestly.
Today, June 18, marks the ends of a memorable “Year for Priests” announced by Pope Benedict XVI who, in his message to Catholic priests, said: “God needs you!” This applies to all people. God needs your mouth to denounce evil, your hands to bless, your feet to tread pathways of truth.
Centuries ago, Apostle Peter reminded his people: “You are a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), while Paul recommended that they “offer their bodies as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1). Can’t you too offer up your whole being for a better world? Remember, David was told: “You are a priest, forever!” If I say that to you, will you still laugh? Or, send me to some psychiatrist?

— Francis Gonsalves is the principal of the Vidyajyoti College of Theology, Delhi. He is involved in interfaith dialogue and peoples’ initiatives for fostering justice, harmony and peace. He can be contacted at fragons@gmail.com