THE GOOD NEWS
ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN

May 21, 2006

The Good News

...Come, Follow Me!

The call of Jesus to share in His life is extended to men and women of faith.  Jesus invites us all to become His saints.  Our first response to the Lord is made through baptism and repentance of sin.  As we grow and mature, we continue this affirmative response through our acceptance of His teachings and obedience to His commandments.  Thus we come to know, love and serve God as Jesus leads us along our pilgrim journey to life everlasting in heaven.

In addition to this beautiful, universal call to holiness, Jesus also calls some of His followers to special ministries of service.  The most remarkable of all these special calls to ministries is seen in the call of His apostles.  It is so remarkable because it is a share in His own life and priestly ministry.

“As Jesus was walking by the Lake of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter and his brother Andrew.  They were making a cast into the lake with their net for they were fisherman.  And He said to them:  ‘Come after Me and I will make you fishers of people.’  At once they left their nets and followed Him.

Going on from there, He saw another pair of brothers, James the son of Zebedee and his brother John.  They were in their boat with their father Zebedee mending their nets and He called them.  At once, leaving the boat and their father, they followed Him.” (Matthew 4:18-22)

This call of the first four disciples is recorded in all the Gospels.  Each of the Gospels then goes on to report the calling of the twelve of the Apostles.  “Come follow Me,” Jesus said and each of them in turn did so.  They became His collaborators in His mission and ministry.  After Jesus rose from the dead, He continued to prepare His apostles for the service they were called to do in His Name and on His authority.  After His ascension into heaven, Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide the Church He entrusted to His apostles.

Like Jesus, the apostles continued to call other men to assist them in the ministry of proclaiming the Word of God and building up the Church which is the Body of Christ.  The successors of the apostles are the bishops.  Their helpers and collaborators are called priests.  All are ordained to continue the ministry of Jesus among us.

On Friday evening, June 2nd, we will celebrate this long tradition of calling men to ordination as priests.  That evening at 7 p.m., I, as your Archbishop, through the imposition of hands, will ordain Daniel J. Letourneau a priest for the service of the Church of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

While all people of the Archdiocese are welcome to attend and participate in this ceremony of priestly ordination, I want to extend a very special invitation to our young men.

Boys in elementary school, young men in high school or college, some of you are also being called by God to become His priests.  As you grow and mature, you will discover this plan of God if you, like the apostles, are willing to listen.  But remember always, Jesus does not force you.  He calls you “Come follow Me and I will make you fishers of people!”

Young men of the Archdiocese, come to the Cathedral of Our Lady on Friday, June 2nd at 7 p.m. for the ordination of our  newest priest, Father Dan Letourneau.  Together with your brothers and sisters who are people of faith let us rejoice that God continues to call priests for His ministry among us!