Call to Priesthood, a commission by God to act on his behalf: Homily of Bishop Paul

Bishop Paul Hinder ordained Deacon Eugene Dickson SDB to the priesthood on 25 March 2022, the Feast of the Annunciation of our Lord at St. Peter and Paul Church, Ruwi, Muscat.

Below is the full text of the homily delivered by the Bishop during the ordination Mass.

Readings of the Day:
Isaiah 61:1-3; 2 Corinthian 4:1-2, 5-7; John 21:15-17
 

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We just heard from the book of Isaiah the words that are promise and commitment for everyone called to priesthood. Listen again: “The spirit of the Lord God has been given to me … He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken; to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison, to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord” (Is 61:1-2). The ordination of a priest is not the achievement of a religious career, it is a commission by God to act on his behalf. You will be anointed with “the oil of gladness” that you can bring joy to people who are mourning. You are called to be the bringer of the Good News!

True priestly vocation starts with an act of humility in face of God’s overwhelming holiness. Saint Paul speaks about the “light shining out of darkness, who has shone in our minds to radiate the light of the knowledge of God’s glory, the glory on the face of Christ.” Compared to this glory we are as the Apostle says, “only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such on overwhelming power comes from God and not from us” (cf. 2nd reading). Keeping with these words is the best remedy against all kind of clericalism that can estrange a priest (or a bishop!) from the people to whom he is sent.

Priestly existence and ministry implies “to fall like a grain of wheat to the ground and to die.” Only then we can produce much fruit (cf. John 12:25s). In other words, you are called to follow Christ not only in good times but also in times of suffering and humiliation. Where the Master is, there the servant must also be. Keep always in mind what we heard from Saint Paul in the second reading: “It is not ourselves that we are preaching, but Christ Jesus as the Lord, and ourselves as (the people’s) servants for Jesus’ sake.” Your task as priest is to bring people closer to Christ not to yourself. That saves you from a priesthood that could degenerate into an empty show. For this purpose, you will promise me to “exercise the ministry of the word worthily and wisely, preaching the Gospel and teaching the Catholic faith.”

You will publicly commit yourself to "celebrate faithfully and reverently, in accord with the Church’s tradition, the mysteries of Christ, especially the sacrifice of the Eucharist and the sacrament of Reconciliation, for the glory of God and the sanctification of the Christian people.” It helps you not to fall into an empty routine but to keep afresh the “first love” instilled on this day of ordination. Renew every day the declaration Simon Peter made to the Lord after Easter! “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.” Only then you will be able to “feed (his) sheep”. Keep always in mind that we are not functionaries of a multinational company called “Church”, but witnesses of the living Christ in heaven and stewards of his mystical body here on earth. As dispensers of the word and of the sacraments we open the source of life to our sisters and brothers.

We do not work for our own material profit, keeping in mind the word of Saint Paul to Timothy “the love of money is the root of all evils” (1 Tim 6:10). Our place is at the side of those who are in need. Never forget that in each suffering person, Christ is calling “I thirst»”. Be an understanding and good priest and shepherd. You will not be able to resolve all the problems, to heal all the wounds and to fill all the spiritual emptiness. However, you can always be a good neighbour and friend and thus transmit the goodness of Christ to suffering human beings.

To serve as a priest requires that you are "united more closely every day to Christ the High Priest, who offered himself for us to the Father as a pure sacrifice” and that you “consecrate yourself to God for the salvation of all.” You will have to endure hours of solitude and anxiety like Jesus. In our priestly life, we cannot escape our own Gethsemane, but we can do what Jesus did and pray: “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want” (Mk 14:36). Recite this prayer not only for you but for all those who in their pain approach you during your priestly ministry and ask you to remember them before the Lord.

Never forget the words I shall tell you while handing over the bread and the chalice with wine for the Holy Eucharist: "Receive the oblation of the holy people, to be offered to God. Understand what you do, imitate what you celebrate, and conform your life to the mystery of the Lord’s cross.”

Dear brother Dickson, on this feast of the Annunciation to Our Lady you too will be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and called to bring Christ to the world. Say wholeheartedly yes to God who summons you today. I was ordained priest 55 years ago. Since then, I have gone through many thunderstorms hitting the Church and the world. However, I always kept in mind the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary and resumed by Jesus several times in front of his disciples “Do not be afraid!” Never forget the promise of the Lord to his disciples at the end of Matthew’s gospel “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20). Keep this in mind when you leave this church as newly ordained priest. You will never be alone. Christ is with you. Christ goes with you. Amen.