Editor’s note: The following is Bishop Lucia’s June 7 Ordination Day homily at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
What an auspicious occasion for us to gather in this “upper room” to invoke the Holy Spirit to come upon John and Joseph for service in the ministerial priesthood in the Church universal. The “wideness” of that Church is represented by the presence of each person present, including visiting clergy and seminarians — and especially my brother bishops, Bishop Cunningham — our Bishop emeritus and Bishop Cleophas Tuka of the Diocese of Nakuru in Kenya, who is no stranger to the parishes of Syracuse! Again, welcome to each and every one of you!
Last Saturday, Pope Leo officiated at his first ordination of priests for the Diocese of Rome. In his homily, the Holy Father stated:
“We are the People of God. The Second Vatican Council revived this awareness, as it were anticipating the times when the sense of belonging would weaken and the awareness of God would become increasingly blurred. You are a witness to the fact that God has not tired of gathering His children — though so different — and of forming them into a dynamic unity. It is not a violent action, but like the gentle breeze that restored hope to the prophet Elijah in his hour of discouragement (cf. 1 Kings 19:12).”
Indeed, it is important for us, brothers and sisters, to remember this morning that the entire holy People of God is made a royal priesthood in Christ. Nonetheless, as our second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews notes, our great High Priest Jesus Christ chooses, certain of his disciples to exercise in his name, on behalf of the human race, a public priestly office in the Church. And it is through this priestly service that Christ’s Mystical Body — the Church, is built up and grows into a holy temple, the People of God.
Therefore, John and Joseph, as soon to be sharers in Christ’s ministerial priesthood and hearkening back to the words of Pope Leo — in a world that is often filled with blustery speech and cutting remarks — it will be your responsibility to be the consoling voice of the Good Shepherd seeking out the lost sheep and comforting those on the margins. As St. Paul addressed the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus: “Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, in which you tend the Church of God that he acquired with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). My sons, this you will do by letting the fruits of the Holy Spirit — “charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity” — be seen transparently in all you say and do and are as priests!
John and Joseph, although you are still young in the eyes of many of us here present (believe me that will change), you are about to be raised to the Order of the Priesthood and to be configured to Christ, the Eternal High Priest in order to serve the flock of Christ in your midst. For your part, you will exercise in Christ, the Teacher, the sacred office of teaching. Imparting to everyone the Word of God that you yourselves have received with joy. You will also exercise in Christ the office of sanctifying. Understand, therefore, what you do, and imitate what you celebrate!
Moreover, as celebrants of the mystery of the Lord’s Death and Resurrection, may you strive with the aid of the Holy Spirit, to put to death whatever is sinful within you and to walk in the newness of life that Christ offers. Again, as Pope Leo instructed the ordinandi last Saturday: “Imitate Jesus! Being of God — servants of God, People of God — connects us to the earth: not to the ideal world, but to the real one. Like Jesus, you meet people of flesh and blood whom the Father places on your path. Consecrate yourselves to them — without separating yourselves from them, without isolating yourselves, without making the gift you have received a kind of privilege.”
My brothers, not only will focusing on Jesus help quiet your souls, but it will give the courage and strength to take up the call He has for you. As St. Paul once wrote, the love of Christ “impels” us to live not for ourselves but to spend our lives following him and obeying his will (cf. 2 Cor 5:14).
John and Joseph, as Good Shepherds yourselves, strive to gather the faithful together as the People of God, into one family, so that you may lead them to that community of love which is God Himself. Keep before you the instruction Jesus gives in this morning’s gospel reading: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you…This I command you: love one another (Jn. 15:13-14, 17).
My brothers, each time we celebrate the Eucharist, we are invited to change into Christ more and more, just as the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ. Every Eucharist is a constant reminder of our daily transformation in the Lord. We are continually formed by the Eucharist we celebrate. The Eucharist not only nourishes our faith and the faith of those we serve, but it shapes us, hopefully becoming more like Christ.
As Church, that is our prayer for you today, John and Joseph, that you may be alter Christus capiti – another Christ for the world today! Using the words of St. Augustine, we now pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the mission ahead:
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,
That I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
To defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,
That I always may be holy.
We call to mind as well Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you, and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain” (Jn 15:16). My sons, may your priestly ministry be filled with much joy and bear much fruit. Amen!
