The greatest ‘door’ God has ever opened for me is the ‘door of salvation’ in his eternal priesthood. That ‘door’ didn’t open because I am worthy; it opened because He is worthy (Psalm 145:3). It didn’t open because I am the best of the best; it opened because my God offers nothing but the best (James 1:17). And His best might come in the form of a cross (Matt. 16:24), but from that cursed cross, He will produce our blessed salvation. That door didn’t open because I merited it; it opened because of His overflowing grace (2 Cor. 12:9). It didn’t open to make me popular like Davido or Burna Boy, it opened to make me humble like Christ (Heb. 12:2). It didn’t open to make wealthy like Dangote; it opened to make me help others enjoy the richness of our God and to help my neighbours like St. Jerome Emiliani (Phil. 4:19). It didn’t open to make others serve me; it opened to make me serve others like Christ who washed the very feet of his own disciples (John 13:1-17). That door didn’t open to me so that my name will find a place in Guiness Book of Records; it opened so that my name will be found in that eternal Book of Life (Rev. 20:12-15). It didn’t open to make me my family’s problems solver, who will share gold and money to everyone in need; it opened to make me one who, through intercessory prayers, takes the problems of the people of God to God and to help lift the fallen, attend to the sick, feed the hungry and bury the dead, whether they are members of my biological family or not. That door didn’t open to make me a politician; it opened to make me a servant of the poorest of the poor, who will tell politicians ‘raw truth’ about the things going on in the society. It didn’t open to make me a successful business man; it opened to make me a man of God. To serve God, I must be humble. I must also know that there is God and that I am not Him. Wish me humility, not ‘open doors’ because God has already opened the door of salvation to me.
Wish me humility to know that without God I am nothing. Wish me the humility to know that my call doesn’t mean I should condemn my brethren who weren’t called to the ‘sacerdotal order.’ wish me the humility to know that telling my people the bitter truth is quite different from judging them. Wish me that humility that will make me docile and loving towards sinners, knowing that I am a sinner and that I am in great need of God’s mercy. Wish me the humility to see God in the wretched and poor of my society. That humility to visit the poor in their poor environment and not to avoid them like Covid-19. Wish me the humility to know that the poor are humans and shouldn’t be treated like nonentities in the church because they won’t be able to contribute millions of naira to the church’s project. Wish me the humility that will make my eyes see myself in that condemned criminal if not for God’s grace. Wish me the humility that will help me to help others who are in need of a shoulder to lean on or cry on. Wish me that humility that will help me bury the dead whether they are poor or wealthy. The humility that will enable me to give God to the people, and to know that I was called and anointed to give God, not gold. As you wish me this, make it a prayer. Whisper it to God for me and for every priest. Ask God to imbue every priest with that humble spirit that will prevent them from tumbling down the ladder of salvation.
Wish me the humility that will help me tell the rich, wealthy and powerful in my society the truth without bias or fear. Wish me that humble spirit that will courageously propel me to make the tears of my neighbours mine. That humility that will help me tell my brother priests about their shortcomings to their faces, knowing that I am filled with shortcomings instead of gossiping about their shortcomings. That humility that will help me be my brother’s keeper, not my brother’s slayer. Wish me that humility to look people in the eyes and tell them that ‘I am sorry,’ when I err. That humility that will kick away the spirit of pride, arrogance and pomposity from my life. That humble spirit that will make me value souls than cars and cash. Wish me the humility that will make me labour for God through thick and thin. That humility that will help me not desecrate the vows and the oath I have sworn before God and his people on the day of my ordination. Forget about those ‘open doors’ because there’s no door that humility cannot open, if the door is the right door. Don’t wish me ‘open doors,’ rather wish me humility that will attract God towards me and attract the poor to me. Wish me that humility that will enable me to earn that crown after fighting the good fight here on earth. Finally, don’t just wish, convert these wishes into heartfelt prayers and intercessions that will help me live like a priest, preach like a priest, die like a priest and like a priest earn a place in God’s eternal Kingdom. I pray for the humility that will make my life my message. Let that humility make my life a living Bible that people will read and come to Christ…
As you wish and pray for me, just know that I’m not resting on my oars. I’m working really hard on my life and relying on your prayers be a better a true priest of God. May God help all priests around the world to grow in his love, and with humility serve God and His people. Amen!
~By: Rev Fr. Albert Nwosu.