Permanent Diaconate Ordination Homily
A vocation is different from a job or a career. The main difference is that someone chooses a job or a career, while “vocation” implies that one is “called,” that the initiative is God’s, not mine or yours. Vocation is very much a theme in our celebration of today’s solemn feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. We hear in the gospel reading for today that Jesus called St. Peter from his fishing boat and nets to be a fisher of men, to become the Rock on whom Jesus would found the Catholic Church. Jesus very dramatically called Saul of Tarsus on the road from Damascus, to turn from persecuting the Church to becoming Paul, its Apostle to the Gentiles. Today the Catholic Church throughout the world begins its “Year of St. Paul,” a celebration of his unique place in the New Testament and in the Church. Here in the Church in the Archdiocese of San Francisco our theme for this Pauline Year this: “Are we not one Body in Christ?” The sense of vocation pervades the lives of these two great apostles.
And if anyone of these five men said to himself, “I think I’d like to be a deacon,” the Catholic Church, in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, during the formation program soon - and often - told them it was a matter mainly of the Lord’s call, not his own striving.
There is great peace in vocation, however, in being called. Consider the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah. Listen to what God says to Jeremiah, and hear him saying it to you this morning: “See, I place my words in your mouth! To whomever I send you, you will go, whatever I command you, you shall speak.” Jeremiah can trust God to give him what he needs to answer the call, and to go with him where God sends him.
And “give” is the right word, because, with a call come the gifts needed to answer the call. Consider St. Paul writing from prison to Timothy, in our second reading. He says of his life and work as an apostle: “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the gentiles might hear it.” We could have no better patron in our preaching of the gospel than Paul. If we are tempted to complain about the difficult times in which we are called to preach the good news, consider this apostle’s words: “I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.” Paul is confident in his faith, as we should be. He claims: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom.”
Paul is lying in dungeon, near the end of his life, yet he boldly expresses his faith and hope in the Savior who has loved and redeemed and called him: “I …am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” Paul is not praising himself but the Lord when he says, “From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.” Sometimes the victory seems to go to unbelief, but not for all that long, and never permanently. As Dr. William Barclay used to like to say, the Roman emperor Nero put St. Paul to death, but now, 2000 years later, men and women name their sons Paul and their dogs Nero!
God gives to each of us the gift of a share in his own divine life in Baptism, and with Baptism comes the call to be Jesus Christ for the world. With the gift of this Sacrament of Orders comes the call to be deacon or priest or bishop, a call to leadership and service in the Catholic Church. These three ministries are not to be confused with each other, but they are to work together selflessly, to collaborate, so that the Church can grow and thrive.
Our five brothers here are to be ordained deacons. Under the leadership and with the cooperation of the bishop and the priests, these deacons will teach and proclaim the word of God; they will serve at the altar, ministering the Eucharist Body and Blood of Christ, and they will carry out the ministry of love to the needy, ministering to the Mystical Body of Christ. They will also celebrate Baptism and assist at the Sacrament of Matrimony, as well as preside at funeral services.
That sounds as if a deacon is a very important Catholic. That’s an interesting phrase, “Very Important Catholic. “ When I was growing up it was the custom of some Catholics to carry a card in their wallets or purses which read, “I am a Catholic - in case of an accident, please call a priest.” A good custom. Once, however, someone handed me a card that was a spoof of the serious card: it read, “I am a very important Catholic - in case of an accident, please call a bishop.”
So what does it mean to be a very important Catholic? Well, one time Jesus answered that question: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.”
In our gospel reading for today we hear that Jesus called Simon Peter to the particular vocation of being the chief among the Twelve, the Rock on whom Jesus built his Church. This did not mean that Peter was perfect, or that there would be no difficulties and temptations. Just think of that first Holy Thursday night, and of Peter denying the Savior three times. It was not greatness but grace that brought Peter through. In the first reading we hear about Peter after Pentecost, under arrest by King Herod. He is in chains, but, as Paul would claim, “there is no chaining the Word of God.” The angel of the Lord delivers Peter and he continues his service of leadership and proclaiming that Word.
So, when we in holy orders lord it over other Catholics, and make our authority over them felt, we disobey and betray Jesus Christ. But why should leaders in the Church be so different from leaders in the world? Because leaders in the Church represent Jesus Christ, who is Lord, but still did not lord it over his flock. That’s the reason for being humble and gentle that Jesus gives to those he calls, in the last sentence of that gospel reading: “Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Never forget that you are deacons, not because Benedict is Pope, nor because George is Archbishop, but because “Jesus is Lord.” In time, Benedict will no longer be Pope and George will no longer be Archbishop, but Jesus will be Lord - always - and you will strive to be gentle, humble, strong, generous and wise, because then Jesus will shepherd and serve his people through you. The promises you make to me, to all of us here today, to the Lord himself, you make for all the days of your life and service to Christ in his Church. That’s why St. Paul urges the early Christians to lead a life worthy of the calling they have received, to be humble, meek and patient. Then what you do as deacons - your ministerial work - and the way you do it - your personal manner - will both show forth Christ, the Good Shepherd. That’s why this ordination rite will urge you to “proclaim the Catholic faith in word and action” and to “shape your way of life according to the example of Christ, whose Body and Blood you give to the people.” Your giving of yourself will witness to Jesus Christ’s giving of himself.
Before you can proclaim the Good News to anyone, you must become good news for them. Being good news and proclaiming the good news are two sides of the same coin: you can have both or neither, but not just one.
Now we can see why the marriage and family life of each of you candidates is so essential to your own call to the Diaconate. In each vocation the Catholic finds himself or herself in what the saints have called a School of the Christian Life. Each School of Christian Life is a school of love for God and one another. For the monk it is the life of the monastery; for the priest or religious it is the life of the community or the parish and the local church; for husband and wife, it is their marriage and their life together as a family. For you deacons it will be from your living of the Sacrament of Marriage that so much of your spiritual experience and strength will come, for cooperating with the graces of this new Sacrament of Orders. Your wives in particular have shared this journey of vocation with you, and will continue to do so now.
The differences among you reflect the many differences within the Catholic community in San Francisco. Your diversity of cultures, languages, experience and backgrounds enrich the ministry of our Archdiocese. Out of all our diversity as Church the Spirit brings unity, if we let the Spirit do that. St. Paul refers to this gift when he urges us “to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” You need to bear with the human imperfections within the Church, not least of all, because the Church needs to bear with the human imperfections within you. Oh yes, they are there.
We, the Body of Christ in San Francisco, welcome you and rejoice with you today. I, the Archbishop, and the priests throughout the diocese welcome you to the Catholic Church’s servants’ quarters, and the joys and challenges therein. Your brother deacons welcome you there too, and find great hope in your joining their ranks. The People of God welcome you and rejoice with you. We pray now, and all days, for your faithful, fruitful, joyful life of service as “Good News” deacons for the love of Christ and his people.
By Most Rev. George H. Niederauer
JUNE 29, 2008
