Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
On this 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Gospel presents a powerful message from Jesus: “The Son of Man has come not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45). These words capture the essence of Christ’s mission and offer us a model for all who lead and serve in the Church, especially our priests.
The image of the Suffering Servant from Isaiah (53:10) describes someone who bears the burdens of others, offering his life for their sake. Jesus embodies this perfectly and invites each of us, particularly those in leadership, to follow His example of humble service. In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks James and John, “Can you drink the cup that I drink?” Their eager “yes” reflected their willingness, but they did not fully grasp the sacrifice that this would demand. These two disciples, who were seeking earthly rewards and positions of honor, needed to learn that following Christ meant embracing a life of service and sacrifice, not one of status or recognition. Jesus demonstrated this later by washing His disciples’ feet, saying, “I have given you an example, so that you may imitate what I have done” (Jn 13:14-15). Leadership in the Church is not about power or recognition—it’s about service, rooted in love.
This past week, I had the joy of attending the National Convocation for Priests, where I was honored to speak to seven bishops and more than two hundred priests from across the country. The theme of my talk was “The Eucharist in the Life of the Priest.” The Eucharist, Christ’s ultimate gift of Himself, is the model for the priesthood. Priests are called to offer their lives in service, just as Christ offers His body and blood for the life of the world. This is the heart of our vocation: to serve the people of God with love, dedication, and self-sacrifice.
However, this path of service is not without its challenges. Leadership in the Church often brings criticism, misunderstanding, and even persecution. I have known many dedicated volunteers—catechists, lectors, and parish leaders—who withdrew from ministry because of harsh criticism. Priests and Church leaders often face these challenges in an especially deep way. Like Christ, who was unjustly accused throughout His ministry, we too must sometimes endure false accusations and misunderstandings about our intentions. It can be difficult to serve with joy under the weight of judgment, but Christ’s example gives us the strength to continue.
Priests, in particular, carry these burdens while also caring for their communities. They work tirelessly, seven days a week, to celebrate the liturgy, offer the Sacraments, and provide spiritual guidance. In addition, they manage parish facilities, schools, and institutions—while also caring for their own families, often supporting aging parents or relatives in need. It takes great strength and grace to continue serving in this way, but priests do so without expecting much in return, knowing their true reward is in serving Christ and His people.
This Sunday is also World Mission Sunday, a day when all Catholics are invited to participate in the Church’s mission of evangelization—bringing the Good News of Christ to others through acts of service. Priests, who are at the forefront of this mission, carry it out every day, often at great personal sacrifice. As we support them in this mission, we too are invited to share in Christ’s challenge to “drink the cup” of self-giving love.
May we recognize the immense value of servant leadership in the Church and offer our support and prayers for all our leaders, especially our priests. They follow the example of Christ, the Suffering Servant, who gave His life for us all.
With heartfelt prayers,
Msgr. Cuong M. Pham