A homily from Father Soto's Memorial Mass, celebrated at the College on January 11, 2023

REV. MICHAEL ROMANO ’07, DIOCESE OF CAMDEN

This morning, we praise God for the life of one of his priests, Father Randy Soto. However, whenever we focus on a particular priest, or even consider the priesthood in general, we ought to reflect firstly on the priesthood of Jesus Christ, for really it is not my priesthood, or our priesthood, or even Father Soto’s priesthood. Rather, it is always Christ’s priesthood, in which we priests have the privilege to participate.

For our reflection today, the passage from the Gospel of Mark (1:29-39) sets before our eyes the life of the high priest, Jesus Christ. In it, he exhibits three priestly dispositions we ought to possess and that Father Soto lived well: availability to serve, approachability, and devotedness to prayer.

Availability

The passage begins: On leaving the Synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. After having taught at the synagogue and exorcizing a man from an unclean spirit, he did not sit down to rest or to be served. Rather, Mark tells us, Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever and they immediately told him about her. He went to her and helped her. Even after giving of himself at the synagogue, Jesus remained available to serve. Not many of us realized how much Father Soto had on his plate here. Yet, no matter how busy he was, he never gave the impression of being preoccupied with time for himself: if he heard we were sick, how many of us benefitted from him leaving some sort of homeopathic medicine or homemade soup outside our rooms (just don’t ask where the soup was made!)? Available is certainly a word to describe Father Soto, who followed the example of the one high priest’s availability to serve.

Approachability

The Gospel continues: When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. People must not have felt intimidated by him, but rather attracted to him, especially when they needed to ask for assistance. Was the same not true for Father Soto? Despite being the most intelligent man in the room, he was never intimidating, but rather remarkably relatable. One way he exercised Christ’s ministry of healing was as a sought-after confessor, and what a good confessor he was. Oftentimes, he would even participate in a penitent’s penance with him. Like

Christ, he, too, was a gatherer and builder of community: pilgrimages and porchetta-thons are but two examples. He gave counsel freely, oftentimes with much humor or even in song. His authenticity certainly made him approachable.

Prayerfulness

Mark’s concluding paragraph begins: Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Jesus’ union with the Father was the key to his priestly identity. That did not escape notice of his apostles, who eventually asked him to teach them how to pray. Father Soto, too, was a man rooted in a life of prayer. He faithfully prayed with the Scriptures, encouraged us in the practice of lectio divina, and shared the fruit of his love for the Word of God with us. And, like Jesus, quietly, not seeking attention, Father Soto rose much earlier than most to give the very early hours of his morning to the Lord. Perhaps that’s what enabled him to remain so available and approachable the rest of the day.

In this Eucharist, we give thanks to the Father for sending us his Son, our high priest. We also thank him for gifting this community with one of his beloved sons, Randy Soto.

May the priestly example Jesus gives us of availability to serve, approachability, and devotedness to prayer enflame our hearts in our desire to live likewise. And may the prayers of Father Soto for us enable us, ever more gradually, to live in the glorious freedom of the children of God. n