Reaching for Heaven

Having entered the Catholic Church at a campus parish during my college years, I perhaps have fewer preconceptions about what it looks like to be a servant of God. The people serving the Lord around me throughout my conversion ranged from birkenstock-wearing college folks, to missionary priests and military personnel. Some were more holy than others, but all of them showed me the love of our Lord, Jesus Christ in a special way.

I think sometimes we get caught up in our own images of what we must be in order to serve God. We build up roadblocks in our heads - we're too young, too old, too imperfect, too busy. Even the prophet Jeremiah tried that line back in the day. The thing is, God doesn't fall for that. When I was struggling with whether or not I was qualified or able to go into ministry as a career, a friend shared with me a now familiar saying. God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called. In fact, the best servants simply take their direction from God and God alone. As baptized members of the body of Christ, we are given access to the Great Qualifier. If God is calling, He won't leave us to fend for ourselves.

Another roadblock sometimes grows out of a desire to see the fruit of our labor. We expect sensational results if we are serving God. However, we may not all be servants whose acts bring about glorious transformation - we can't all be St. Paul or St. Peter. Pope Benedict XVI, in writing about St. Bartholomew, whose feast day it is today, said, "Despite the scarcity of information about him, St. Bartholomew stands before us to tell us that attachment to Jesus can also be lived and witnessed to without performing sensational deeds." We have to struggle into the understanding that the glory is God's alone, and happens in His time despite our best efforts now.

What holds you back from answering God with a resounding "YES!"?

Fr. Mirek Jordanek is one of only few chaplains serving the armed forces stationed in Afghanistan. Together with others in the chaplaincy, Fr. Mirek serves as the spiritual leader of men and women who face challenges unheard of to us.

Read more about Fr. Mirek and the chaplains who are serving our young men and women in Afghanistan. Pray that the Lord may give them the strength to bring a message of hope, comfort and peace to so many who live in the midst of turmoil.

Pope Benedict XVI has declared this the "Year of the Priest." As part of an effort to increase the awareness of all that our priests do for our parishes, families, communities and Church, Genesis Ministries is looking for your stories! Nominate your favorite priest in our "Year of the Priest Contest" by sharing a story of how he has impacted your life - it can be as serious or funny as you choose.

Fr. James Mulakel
Born: June 13, 1950
Ordained: March 17, 1979
Died: July 29, 2009


Sometimes we forget how good we have it. Nope, make that most times. We may live in a country where political differences create heated discussions and divisions, where they have in fact invaded the unity of our Church, but for now, we remain fairly safe in our assumption that we shall not be slain for our faith. Not ours...for now.

In so many places throughout the world, that is simply not the case. A 2002 article at Zenit.org showed that 65%* of all Christian martyrs were made so in the 20th century according to a study presented by journalist Antonio Socci. The places identified with the highest threat were Molucca Islands of Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, East Timor, Cuba, the former Soviet republics, Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries, Vietnam, China and others.

So today, we mourn the loss of this priest, beloved by his community, and pray for all those who continue to be persecuted for the sake of Christ. May they find their reward at the gates of Heaven.