Practice What You Teach, With Humility
When I first began priestly ministry at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Knoxville, I quickly got to know the parishioners who attended our daily mass. One of them, a retired Christian Brother, still stands out in my mind. “I really liked your homily today”, he would say, “especially the end!” He would then let out a small chuckle and head for the door. He said this to me every day without fail for two years. His daily review of my homilies made me laugh, but more importantly kept me humble.
Throughout my time in ministry I have reflected often on the words spoken to me during my ordination to the diaconate. “Receive this book of the Gospels, whose herald you now are. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.” It is that last bit that continues to challenge me. Believing the Gospels has always come naturally to me, teaching is something I enjoy, but putting the Gospel into practice takes lots of prayer and hard work. That being said, we should never stop seeking to live out our faith, even if we are not perfect in our attempts.
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