He wakes up, gets ready, kneels and prays, praises, consecrates, fasts, exhorts, smiles and cries.
Learns, teaches, rebukes, comforts and blesses.
Glorifies, preaches, anoints, visits, understands and forgives. Sows, cultivates, reaps, feeds and offers.
Embraces, helps, prophesies, struggles, wins and is thankful.
Sanctifies, hears and says nothing. Gives, receives, restores, is triumphant, builds, feels and speaks.

The life of the Universal Church pastor…
Looks at the clock, he’s already late!
He has no car, so he stands at the bus stop and waits.
Visits hospitals, prisons and funerals. He goes everywhere in search of the lost sheep because he’s a shepherd.
His tired body awaits the time to go to sleep.

Just as that happens, the phone rings.
He quickly gets up and recognises the voice on the other side.
One of his sheep is afflicted and in need of help.
And off he goes, bringing comfort to troubled hearts.
He could be crying out in complaint, but instead only a tear moistens his eye.
His pain is transformed into joy, the compensation for having been chosen
for this sublime mission.

It’s late by the time he finally gets home and his wife says:
“Today’s our wedding anniversary.”
Lots of decorations and the table is beautifully set… but the food has gone cold… and he awkwardly says:

“Forgive me, my love, but this is the life of a man of God on the Altar.”

Bishop Julio César L. Freitas