Say unto him, "The Lord hath need of him"

I suspect we all have things that are perfectly innocuous in themselves but we postpone as long as we can because they just irritate us for some reason. Getting my car serviced is one of those things. But when the low-tire-pressure light is on, even I feel a certain degree of urgency. So I made my appointment at the dealership and interrupted the pressing business of the day -- which was already urgent enough to displace the more-important-but-less-urgent work I should have been doing -- to have my car looked after.

I am about to sit down at a table in the waiting area when I hear someone call out, "Father!" (I do love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces. And I wasn't even wearing my phylacteries.) One of my brother priests is also having his car serviced. He invites me over, and I sit down and we talk, first about nothing very much, but gradually more seriously. Parish ministry -- he is a rector -- can be difficult, and he has had a rough time of it lately, though he tells the stories with such wit that I am laughing even as my heart breaks for him.

I think I've never had a conversation with him in which he hasn't said something memorable. One of the best bits this time was "Just feed them. It's not on you if they don't eat."

"Will you bless me, Father?" he asked. So I prayed for him, and blessed him, and I was reminded yet again of what a privilege and a blessing it is to have the colleagues and friends I have, and to be able to pray for them, and with them.

His car was ready.

"OK," he said. "I'm off to love me sheep. No, not my sheep. God's sheep.

For we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

God's, that is. Not my friend's.

But what I would say to my friend is that the Lord hath need of him.

I suspect not many priests would particularly enjoy being analogized to an ass, and to a colt, the foal of an ass.

I can assure you that this friend would find it hilarious.