The Image of God

One of my friends told me, about his spiritual father, the priest who hears his confession, a word that warmed the cockles of my heart. We were together in my office. He said: “He is merciful to me when I fall, and hard on me when I rise”. Clearly, the word exudes the wisdom of the great Fathers. The word prompted me to adopt its clarity to tell my friend: “it is the mercy of the father and the rigor of the father who wants to protect his children from falling”. I did not mention to him anything about the explicit emphasis in the word on the personal responsibility. My friend does not need anyone to remind him that Man does not keep away from sin only if he confesses it, but also if he himself strives to protect himself from the vice. When he left me to go on his way, I felt deep respect in my heart for the priest who is both father and mother to the brethren. Is there anything more valuable that reveals that the priest is an image of God?