From My Readings This Week
A poignant reminder that priests are, above all, human, vulnerable, yearning, and grappling with their own struggles, yet called to a higher purpose. To honor their humanity is to acknowledge both their joy and their sorrow while also holding them accountable when frailty leads to betrayal. True holiness lies not in perfection, but in humility: allowing grace to emerge through the cracks.
"Priests Are Human Too
Priests are human.
They play basketball in worn-out shoes,
and sometimes they join fun runs, even Ironman races,
just to prove their bodies can keep up with their spirits.
They want to travel, to see the world beyond parish walls.
They stand in airports like everyone else
curious, excited, sometimes lonely.
They admire beautiful women, too
for before they were called “Father,”
they were simply men with eyes that notice,
hearts that stir,
souls that know what it means to long.
They line up at fast food counters,
they cheer at international concerts,
they laugh at movies,
they hum Taylor Swift or Andrea Bocelli under their breath.
They scroll through phones,
send emojis,
watch TikToks,
and sometimes get lost in the same distractions
we all wrestle with.
Yes, priests are human.
And to see this is to remember they are not angels in disguise,
but brothers who carry the same hungers,
the same temptations,
the same need for joy and rest.
And yes priests also cry.
They cry in silence when no one sees.
They carry shame when they fail.
They blush, they grow shy,
they feel the sting of inadequacy,
the weight of expectations too heavy to bear.
Yes, priests are also human in their frustrations.
They can feel jealous when assignments are given to someone they believe does not deserve them.
They can grow weary of politics within the Church, battling not only the world outside
but the tensions inside.
Sometimes, in their darkest nights,
they even question God Himself:
“Why me, Lord? Why this path? Why this silence?”
Yes, priests are human.
And because they are human,
they deserve understanding, patience, and prayer.
Their humanity makes them relatable,
their weaknesses make them approachable.
But hear this:
humanity is not an excuse for sin.
To be hungry is human
but to amass properties and live in indulgence
while the flock goes hungry,
that is gluttony.
To admire beauty is human
but to go beyond admiration,
to pursue forbidden desires,
to break vows,
to leave women carrying children in secrecy,
that is lust.
To seek rest is human
but to spend more time in leisure than in service,
to hide behind hobbies while neglecting souls,
that is sloth.
To be respected is human
but to demand privilege,
to silence questions,
to cover excess with holy words,
that is pride.
Yes, priests are human.
And precisely because they are human,
their choices matter.
For their sins are not private they ripple through the Body of Christ.
Their indulgence is not theirs alone it burdens the people they serve.
Their fall is not theirs alone it wounds the faith of many.
So let us not cheapen their humanity by calling every scandal “understandable.”
Humanity explains weakness, yes
but it does not excuse betrayal.
Blessed are those who carry their humanity with humility, who fight temptation though they sometimes fall, who live simply, serve faithfully,
and allow grace to heal their cracks.
But woe to those who wear humanity like a mask, to justify what should never be justified.
So yes they play, they travel, they admire, they sing.
But when the Mass begins,
when the Bread is lifted,
when the people cry out for hope,
their humanity is bound to a higher call:
to serve, to shepherd,
to love beyond themselves.
Ex silentio cordis, murus loquitur.
(From the silence of the heart, the Wall speaks.)"
Meanwhile, Did you know that.....
This fiery geography is also why the country has rich soil for farming, abundant geothermal energy, and dramatic natural scenery, but it comes with the risk of earthquakes and eruptions that Filipinos have learned to live with for centuries.
Lastly, my fictional twin from my original photo:
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