Liberated by Jesus

As I look at my life as a man in formation discerning the priesthood of Jesus Christ, I cannot help but notice the change that has come over me. Before entering the seminary, I did many things which I now see were wrong. These things only made me feel guilty and shackled in a certain sense. After being in seminary for a couple of months, I can see that it is Christ who can liberate me from my shackles and can set me free. The Lord says, "If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed," (Jn 8:36). The Lord has made me free and has called me by my name to follow in His footsteps and become a "Fisher of Men." Life in the Seminary is definitely not easy, but if I keep my eyes on the Lord, I can surely overcome any obstacle. Many believe that the seminary is for those who "know" that they will become priests in the future. This is not true. The seminary is a place in which men who feel called to a priestly vocation can be formed to become men of communion and affectively mature people who can discern the will of God in their lives. As I said before, it is not an easy task. The hardest thing about it is the constant introspection that seminarians must do to become more self-aware. The Lord Jesus carries those in formation towards becoming more like Him and therefore being men whose lives are dedicated to the Lord and His Church.