29 July 2025

St. Peter writes that we are called ‘to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ’. (1 Peter 2;5) We are privileged people with access to the heart of God. However, this brings responsibility, a vocation. We are called to be bridge-builders, sharing the love of God with the world.

This has implications for the missionary endeavour of the Church and for the shape of its ministry. We all have a responsibility to make God’s love known in acts of goodness and grace. These are the spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.

There is a tension between the priesthood or the ministry of Word and Sacrament and the priesthood of all believers. If the ministry of Word and Sacrament is elevated too highly, the people of God may be disempowered to fulfil their rightful ministry.

On the other hand, if everyone is a priest with a similar vocation, then the preaching and teaching office of the Church is devalued and diminished and the centrality of the Word in the life and worship of the Church is displaced.

Whilst there are distinctive ministries within the Church and women and men with particular gifts are called to exercise these ministries, we must never forget that our priesthood is primarily a participation in the priesthood of Christ.

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