Archbishop Bernard's Homily for the Ordination of 8 New Permanent Deacons

Homily - Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate

Set them before…the priest, that they may minister to him.

The celebration of an Ordination is a special moment when the Church gathers together so that the Lord can act through his ministers and provide servants to care for his people.  In a very supportive way, their wives and families and many friends have gathered here in the Cathedral with Andrew, Ben, David, Martin, Michael Carlton, Patrick and Stephen so as to be close to them and in order to witness this significant moment in their lives.  As we all assembled we first gathered our thoughts in prayer so as to focus our minds and intentions on this sacramental act in which we are united with these eight candidates for ordination. 

That unity with them and with one another is Christ’s doing through his presence in the Word of Scripture and by his coming to us in the Eucharist.  But he also gathers us in a distinctive way to witness his own sacramental action in the lives of these eight friends of ours as they become deacons.  In the words and signs that we shall witness it is Our Lord himself who is present sacramentally in the midst of his Church providing his holy people with servants after his own heart.

And for you, dear friends who are to be ordained, the Lord is also gathering you to himself so that you can receive his Holy Spirit in a new way as deacons.  This is a unique encounter with Our Lord, for ordination to the diaconate comes your way only once.  It is a particular gift given to you for all time for the service of Christ’s Body and for his own purposes which are distinctive for each of you.  So we must see this sacramental moment as a turning point in your lives, when your own thoughts and experiences are gathered into this one moment to be transformed by the love of Christ.

People sometimes speak of those rare times when the whole of their lives seem to flash before them, gathered as it were into one single moment.  In a sacred sense that must be so today, for it is the whole of your lives that Our Lord takes and changes through the power of his Holy Spirit and through your ordination as deacons.  We can see the transformative effect of the Holy Spirit reflected in today’s reading from the Book of Numbers: that they may minister to him.

As you approach the altar today to be ordained you may well be conscious of the human weakness and frailty that naturally holds us back from so much that the Lord calls us to be and do for his Church.  But you will not be relying upon your human capabilities alone once you share sacramentally in the Priesthood of Christ as Deacons.  You will be empowered to serve in a new way and to pray in the Holy Spirit for the needs of the whole Church.  In your prayer the Spirit himself expresses our plea, especially when you pray the Divine Office for the intentions of those you serve and in union with the universal Church.

This prayerful service characterises the ministry that you receive sacramentally today.  As Deacons you will be close to the Priest during the Eucharist assisting him at the altar and bearing witness in your role to Christ the servant and to the service offered by the Church to the world.

As Deacons one of your most important tasks will be to proclaim God’s Word in the Gospel, and to uncover its significance and power through your preaching.  As you preach think of yourselves as the salt of the earth and the light of the world, working for the growth of God’s Kingdom.  Your part in the liturgy will also motivate your continued study of the Word of God and your prayerful reflection on the Scriptures.

I know that you understand this well and that you will be conscious of this wonderful commission when you receive the Book of the Gospels.  You are mandated to believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach in your words and actions.  You will be Servants of the Word as you help others to receive and love the Word made flesh.  You will reveal in yourselves the power of God’s Word by the way it is shaping your lives.  You are very aware of the need to be obedient to the Word by listening and prayerfully reflecting on it day by day.

Those gathered here with you and those who know you best – your dear wives who will help you to vest as Deacons in a few moments time, your families and friends and the members of your Parish communities – they know that the Lord will use you to touch others so as to bring them to faith in him or to deepen that faith.  Become the faithful diakonoi that Christ makes you today. Remember that the deacon is the go-between bringing God’s Word to the people and leading the people to Christ.

Christ will be the one who serves in and through you – may he now intensify your longing to share more deeply in his service of others in the years to come.  May your service as deacons bear much fruit in the Church for the good of others.  Your lives will help others to put their trust in the Holy Spirit and it is the same Spirit whom we now invoke upon each one of you.  As you prostrate yourselves in the presence of Christ remember to let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 

 The Ordination of Andrew, Martin, Michael, Ben and David