Eternal Rest Grant Unto Fr. Kaiser

We had a priest funeral today. Someone had commented that i has been a while since we had a priest die. Father Kaiser was a kind and gentle man. To be sure a real pastor of the people he served. I never got to know him well but he always offered a warm greeting when ever we met. Father was one of two dozen or so priests that was at everything. A funeral, anniversary, a dinner, or some sort of gathering he was there.

When priests are ordained we are ordained into a fraternity of sorts. While we work largely on our own outside of communities, having a fraternal relationship is very important. It is the ones who are never present for anything, that we begin to worry about. Since we are not religious order priests, our gathering together throughout the year offers support and encouragement. And at times like funerals we can mourn with each other and be a source of support and encouragement to each other.

I often reflect back upon the Acts of the Apostles whereas the early Christian community is described in terms of communion and unity. The entire body looked after each other, establishing a strong bond, and a becoming a sign and symbol of unity and community. It is in Christ and in the Eucharist that these early believers found a source of support and encouragement - especially when times were difficult.

Father Kaiser, a much older man than I, heard God's call and responded faithfully. That is a challenge for all baptized believers to discern the call of God and to respond with our unconditional 'Yes.' There is that question I use so often when talking about Stewardship, "What I do after I say I believe." Not just ordained priests, but all of us are called to offer worthy sacrifice for the benefit of the Kingdom.

I had already prayed evening prayer, and reflected upon Father Kaiser, but in our prayer we should always be praying for and with each other. More so, as in the words of St. Paul (sort of) offer a blessing rather than a curse. We continue to build up the Body of Christ so as to offer a faithful witness of everything we have seen and heard.