Fr. Noel Gorgis, a Chaldean priest ordained 27 years ago, on August 06, 1989, on the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ, was invited to celebrate Mass at his father’s house among a number of family members & friend for these two blessed occasions. He gave a very nice homily – in Chaldean- reflecting on the Gospel reading of Matthew 17:1-13, according to our Eastern Apostolic Chaldean liturgy.
(Below is a translation of Fr. Noel’s homily):
Shlama/Greetings,
As we read in the Gospel, our Lord Jesus Christ took with Him three disciples whom He chose from among the 12 for they were closer to understand His purpose and His goal that was to be revealed and fulfilled at time of Resurrection. The three apostles were led by Jesus up a high mountain where He was transfigured before them which made Peter, one of the three, very happy to say; “Lord, it is good to be here” (Matthew 17:4). Peter saw the truth and accepted it because Jesus wanted him and the two other disciples to be a part of what happened at that moment of Transfiguration.
Many times in life, one is not ready to say the truth or act on it but chooses to hold on to it and keeps it for later, or forever. Surely, our Lord had a purpose and a goal that made Him reveal Himself before those three disciples on that day.
On this date, 27 years ago, I became a priest when many things were revealed before me after answering my call for priesthood. Priesthood is a very dear gift to me, and it is sacred, it is when that person gives himself to the best thing ever with the satisfaction that he will reach his goal to fulfill his mission in life, even though we know that priesthood is not an easy step. It is full of difficulties, pressures, persecution, termination and other things. but at the end, if your goal is set from Day One on God’s trust, and that you will pursue it all the way till the finish line, then, no matter what, you will certainly achieve it proudly & successfully.
The three disciples definitely experienced many difficulties when Jesus took them to witness His Transfiguration, and their faith & trust in Him helped them stay with Jesus till the end. Many of us cannot take any action in life or even endure any difficulty, yet we become discouraged and runaway from any responsibility or stand, just because we don;t want to bother.
Today, we must thank God that we are living here in this country America with our families and friends, putting all our trust in God who will help us reach our goal in life and receive His grace, just like the apostles and all the saints who loved God above all.
God is love; to love God in this world, is hard, God’s plan for the world is not like what the world wants from God, yet those who trust in God completely and accepts His will are very humble and weak to say: “Can anything ever separates us from Christ’s love?” (Romans 8:35).
We are gathered here as brothers and sisters to pray and to celebrate the 27th anniversary of my blessed ordination as a priest in a church that does not accept me anymore today. My own Chaldean Church wants to stop me from being who I am! This is not just, and there is no such a thing in the world. I was ordained and I am a priest for life, a priest for this church, for this people, for this liturgy, for this belief. Therefore, nothing should separate me from my love to my church, from my love to my liturgy, and from my love to my God and my people.
I pray and offer this Mass for the intention of my dear father whose prayers and inspiration helped me overcome and endure all difficulties in order to pursue my goal. I ask God to grant my father who is 90 years old, the strength and courage to live the rest of his life comfortably. I also want to offer this Holy Sacrafice for the intention of my late mother who is now enjoying with the angels and the saints.
I also offer this Mass for the intention of all your deceased, and for the intention of all of us who are gathered here so we may see and understand the truth that Jesus wanted to reveal to us on His Transfiguration. Whoever fulfills God’s will, no one can stand in his way, because no one can stand in God’s way. That is why no one can stop us from praying or coming together to celebrate Mass.
Finally, Fr. Noel thanked everyone who attended and asked everyone to pray for our families, and for our Chaldean Church who needs our prayers at most, and also for all the other Christians.
By: Wasan Jarbo
