He Chose Me
By Rev Fr Joachim Chang
Reflecting on those forty years of my life I find that I have much to be thankful for. Indeed, God has been generous in his providence. I am not old enough to boast of a vast experience, as compared to many older people I have known. Yet, what I have experienced left a deep impression in my life, shaping my formation and vision as a priest.
Losing my father at seven was not easy though I was not very close to him. I felt a sense of emptiness which I could not understand. It was probably the source of my feelings of inferiority and loneliness. I did not have many friends in my childhood, and the few that I had did not last long. I could not relate well with those around me, not even my family, and I did not understand myself.
Then came adolescence. By providence, I landed at St. Joseph’s Institution, a Catholic mission school. It was through the school band that exposed me to the Catholic faith. (It never fails to amaze me how this band could turn up five priests from the 1975 to 1980 batches) A teacher at that time played a significant part in my life. Two things she did for me: she believed in me, and she loved me into loving my family, loving myself, and most of all, loving God. That experience empowered me to aspire to love like she.
I owe my growth to her, and I believe it was God who touched me through her. In the past I would complain of a rotten childhood. Now I see it as a beautiful childhood that has taught me much. I come to realize that those trials and tribulations, those disappointments and tear, those hard knocks and bruises have contributed to my growth, making me to be what I am today. I was once lonely and sad, and because of that, I can now empathize with those who are lonely and sad. I trust that God is in control and there must be a reason for everything that happened. Somehow, my childhood and adolescent experiences had led me to the priesthood.
Many individuals have contributed to my formation, though some may not know it. Their actions often left me pondering over who God is, who I am and what life and the Church are all about. God has sent a community to form me as a priest. I am not left alone.
Some people asked me why I chose to be a priest, but I think the more important question is, “Why did God choose me?" My answer is that God does not choose me to be a priest for myself, but a priest for him and a priest to serve among his people. I am not worthy of this call, but since he has chosen me, I walk in faith trusting that he will journey with me. As I witness to his gospel, I also witness to the work he has done in me. I count it as a privilege, and all I want to say is: Believe in God, believe in yourself, and believe in what he can do in you and through you.