Jeremiah 28:1-17 / Matthew 14:22-36 (Year A)
If we are to look at some of the pictures of St John Vianney, we might come to think that as far as looks are concerned, he cannot make it.
But not just looks, as far as intellectual capacity and ability is concerned, St John Vianney also could not quite make it.
But he was eventually ordained as a priest, but initially on the condition that he did not preach at Mass or even teach catechism, for fear that he would end up teaching something heretical.
But how did a priest like St John Vianney eventually be proclaimed by the Church as the Patron Saint for Priests?
Firstly, it was in the confessional that he received the grace of spiritual insight and helped people in repentance and conversion.
Very often, St John Vianney spent as long as 17 hours everyday in the confessional, helping people see their sinfulness and experiencing the mercy and forgiveness of God.
Later when he was allowed to preach, he spoke in simplicity about the love of God, and he also spoke with passion.
He worked himself tirelessly to serve the people by bringing them closer to God, besides having to face temptations from the devil, and also persecutions from members of the clergy and others.
Indeed, St John Vianney was a model of dedication, of holiness, of prayer and of faithfulness.
As we celebrate this feast, let us pray for our priests that they too will remain dedicated to God, faithful to God, and strive for holiness and be models of prayer to us.
When priests serve the Lord like St John Vianney did, then the Church would indeed be a priestly and holy people.
Nothing spectacular or dramatic about him but all done in simplicity and humility. Yet St. John Vianney is the Patron Saint and model for all priests, because he was a sign and an instrument of the healing and saving mission of Jesus.
Jesus came to heal and save and to look for the lost. Let us pray for our priests that they will follow the example of St. John Vianney and be a sign and instrument of the healing and saving mission of Jesus.