Throughout his long career as a priest and bishop, Joseph Ratzinger consistently emphasizes the virtue of humility as one of the primary qualities for a priest. For example, Ratzinger says: “One cannot simply make himself a priest. It is not a rung on a career ladder that one builds for himself. A man can only become a priest; this means that there is always something passive about it, receptive, allowing oneself to be called and gifted. One cannot seek it out for oneself as a job worth striving for, but only allow oneself to be called, accepted and accompanied” (Ratzinger, “The Interior Center for Priestly Life”). Moreover, Ratzinger refers to the New Testament, in which John the Baptist is described as a “voice,” while Christ appears as “the Word.” The relation of ‘voice’ (vox) to ‘word’ (verbum) helps to make clear the mutual relationship between Christ and the priest.” The bottom line is that the role of a priest is carrying the word from God to others, as St. John Vianney did throughout his life as a humble parish priest.
In the Gospel reading, as part of the continuation of the story of the multiplication of the loaves, Jesus walks on the sea, and his disciples are terrified. Jesus then immediately speaks to them. Since they are in despair, Jesus says to them, “Fear not.” This is the same thing that He says during the last supper: “In the world you will have trouble, but I have conquered the world” (John 16:33). Since the disciples think He is a ghost, He says to them, “It is I.” Jesus does this because the disciples will be certain that it is Him from his voice: “My sheep will hear my voice” (John 10:27). Here we might think that Jesus Himself is acting as the voice (vox) instead of the Word (verbum). But Peter’s reaction might help us understand the situation. Peter immediately says, “Bid me come to you upon the waters.” Here Peter is confident and shows that he has great faith. He has confidence because he himself had confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Although later Peter shows his little faith, at the very least he shows confidence and great faith after hearing Christ’s voice. Thus, the role of a priest is to carry the Word of God that they receive from hearing the Word with full confidence and boldly in His power.