Following is the homily preached by Bishop Sartain at the May 9 Mass of Thanksgiving at the Cathedral of St. Andrew honoring five priests celebrating jubilees of ordination this year: Father Raphael DeSalvo, OSB, 60 years; Fathers John E. Barnes, Sebastian Beshoner, OSB, and Richard Cleary, OSB, 50 years; and Father W. Andrew Smith, 25 years.

The priest who truly knows his soul
sees no need to call attention to himself.
He does not use words that inspire admiration.
His people do not say,
“You must come hear our wonderful priest,
he is so eloquent!”
He is so familiar with his own soul,
with the Voice of God within his life,
that his parishioners say,
“God loves us.”
(Paraphrase of chapter 35, “The Art of Pastoring: Contemplative Reflections” by William C. Martin)

There is not one of us who, at some level or another, does not need or seek affirmation. It is the most natural thing in the world to want to be assured that we are on the right track, that someone notices our efforts, that we are of worth and value to someone, that we are loved. We never completely grow out of that need.
But when we accept a vocation, by both calling and necessity that need takes second place. Now the priority is to let the other know that she is loved, that he is of value, that they are not alone. The spouse whose focus remains on him- or herself will quickly sour a marriage, for he or she will not do things simply for the good and the joy of the other. The individual whose life is an incessant cry for attention will turn others away.
As with the vocation of marriage, so it is with the vocation of priesthood — and perhaps even more so. Like everyone, we want to know that what we do matters, that someone notices and appreciates our work. But if our efforts and our toil are focused only on ourselves and a certain vision of success, our people will never know that they are loved, healed, forgiven and saved. If one can name it so, the “measure” of our effectiveness is not the building that goes up, the loan that is paid off, or the increase in membership, but the look of peace on the parishioners who have been led to a deeper relationship with God, whose love they have encountered with great wonder. The “measure” of our success is, as John the Baptist put it, that we have decreased and He has increased.
We priests work hard. Most priests probably work too hard for their own good. The main reason for our hard work is our love for the large flock entrusted to our care. But in moments of silence and prayer we are reminded that it is not we who save our flock, but the Lord Jesus: “… take courage, I have conquered the world.”
It seems to me that one of the most mysterious and awesome aspects of our calling is that it is not we who minister, but Jesus who ministers to his flock through us. As Augustine wrote, when we baptize, Jesus baptizes. Our sacramental ministry, especially the Eucharist, the core of our vocation, is nothing less than Jesus himself at work. He is our Lord, our companion, our inspiration, and our very self. We never act alone. We never are alone.
Jesus had a profound sense of his union with his father. Though he knew that his disciples would scatter and that some would abandon him, leaving him alone, he assured them: “But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” We are not alone, ever, because in Jesus the Father is with us. By the Holy Spirit Jesus works through us to feed, free, and love his people, so that they will know in the most profound sense that they, too, are not alone. They can say, “God loves us,” because we have introduced him to them and allowed him to work through us.
Our annual Jubilee celebration for priests is a small way that we say to the Jubilarians, “We have noticed your love and hard work. We are grateful for the long hours you have labored for us, for the hidden favors you have done for many who never said ’thanks.’ Because of you, we know that God loves us. In fact, because of you, we know God and have seen the wonders of his Son, Jesus. We know that you do not want to call attention to yourself, and we thank you for that, too. Each of you in his own way has made a difference in our lives. We thank you, from the bottom of our hearts — but we give praise to God, who is at work in you. You are never alone.”
Do you have an intention for Bishop Sartain’s prayer? If so, send it to him at Bishop Sartain’s Prayer List, Diocese of Little Rock, 2500 North Tyler St., P.O. Box 7239, Little Rock, AR 72217.