One day last year we had a meeting among priests. Part of the agenda was to congratulate two priests for their long years of service to the ministry. One was celebrating 60 years in the priesthood and the other, an Italian, was celebrating 50 years. They reminisced of their long years of service and there are three things we noticed.

• First, they were faithful to their mission. There were good times and difficult times. There were ups and downs. There were mistakes. There were temptations. In all of these, they remained faithful to the their mission of the Priesthood. Point out prayer and the Eucharist as their source of strength.
• Second, their works and service. At 50 years and 60 years, it was so nice to hear their stories of their many services, the people they encountered, their many anecdotes, their many adventures and yes, even blunders. One cannot discount the happiness all of these brought to the two priests’ lives. 
• Third, they had inspired people to be better Christians. In their long years in the ministry, they have inspired so many people to the faith and there were many people they encountered that also inspired them to the faith.

Faithfulness, Works and Service, and Being the Light of the World. 

These are three of the many indicators of a fruitful life. This is what we pray for whatever our mission and calling is. Also, the Gospel reminds us that this is only possible if we stick with Jesus. He after all is the vine and we are the branches. With him we cannot do anything. Lastly, there is a saying, “It is not the number of years in life that matters. It is the life in all those years.” If I may add, “It is the fruits in all those years.”