We can easily give way to some of the negativity around us. We can at times be tempted to go with the flow of public opinion as we are constantly bombarded by other values and principles that are quite contrary to what Jesus stands for. We can at times feel at a loss in front of so many needs and cries for help that surround us. In the midst of all this we are called to sow Jesus Christ who is alive and life giving in all of us.
Not so long ago at a meeting of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, we had a prayer that included this phrase "I am God's story of hope to the world". There have been and there are innumerable people who manifest in various ways this reality. There are young people where generosity and sense of life enthrals me. There are married people whose sense of care and tenderness amazes me. There are single people whose dedication encourages me and there are priests and religious whose faith and genuine shepherding carry me forward. This is the presence of Jesus Christ among us. This is the journey of our church in action.
Tonight we are here to celebrate, encourage, support and pray for Peter Ferwerda who in a short while is going to say to us publicly "I am God's story of hope to the world in my ministry as a priest". What is a priest supposed to do to give hope to the world? The official church documents and the Roman Ritual for today's liturgy of ordination talk about three specific ministries. The priest is ordained to a) preach the gospel; b) sustain the people; c) celebrate the liturgy. I would like to offer some remarks about these three roles.
In the first place, Peter you are called to preach the gospel. In other words you are called to preach Jesus, and the power that is present here with us today through His resurrection. Jesus Christ is alive and you are commissioned to proclaim this reality constantly. Peter as all of us priests, you are called to preach with conviction and with passion and in an intimate manner what Jesus taught and what Jesus promulgated, and relate all of this to the life situation of our people. Do not be afraid to preach about the Cross of Jesus. For us the Cross is not a sign of defeat, or of madness, but it is a powerful reminder that no matter what difficulties we are faced with, in Jesus there is life, there is hope, there is victory. The Cross is a stark reminder that we are people of victory because ultimately everything will be put under the headship of Jesus, even death.
My brother remember, crisis is our bread and butter. The Last Supper took place in a time of crisis. Jesus knew that He was going to be betrayed by one of His own. He knew that very soon his closest mates were going to abandon Him because of fear. Yet Jesus did not back off. He remained there to show us that He is in control of every situation and that everything will work out OK for those who are of God. Vaclav Havel, the ex president of Czeckoslovakia had this to say about hope. "Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense regardless of how it turns out". It is the conviction that all that we live for, happiness and sorrow, victory and defeat will be found to have sense in Jesus Christ. This is what you are called to preach.
Secondly you are ordained to sustain your people and to let God's people sustain you. Yes feed our people with Jesus, be close to them in the different circumstances of their lives but also do not minister in isolation. A vital part of our ministry is to let the church be what it is supposed to be, the people of God. Our ministry is tied up with our relationship with our brother priests, religious and people of God. In this way we are not alone. Fear can creep up on us if we think that we have to do this ministry on our own. There is only one way how to combat this fear and that is by refusing isolation and by building communion around us. Timothy Radcliffe the former Superior General of the Dominicans tells this story. This is taken from his latest book entitled "What is the point of being a Christian." Someone once wrote to a famous Rabbi that he was deeply unhappy. He wrote, "I would like the Rabbi's help. I wake up each day sad and apprehensive. I can't concentrate. I find it hard to pray. I keep the commandments, but I find no spiritual satisfaction. I go to the synagogue but I feel alone. I begin to wonder what life is about. I need help". And the Rabbi just sent the letter back underlining the first word of each sentence. And it is always the same one "I". This is the unhappiness of the lonely self. Yes, sustain and feed our people but let our people and brother priests, sisters and religious sustain you too.
In the third place, you are being ordained to celebrate the liturgy. My brother Peter remember well that when you are celebrating the liturgy you are not presenting yourself but you are presenting Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and in union with God the Father. The more faithful you are to your prayer life the more you will let Jesus Christ work through you, with you and in you. The sacraments highlight the presence of Jesus Christ at the key moments of a persons life. May the way you celebrate the liturgy give our people the opportunity to experience the great love that God has for them throughout their life.
Finally, you have chosen this special day for your ordination on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. We are all very much aware of your special closeness to Mary the Mother of Jesus and Mother of the Church. Our prayer is that like Mary you always remember that you are filled with the grace and the presence of God. And may you also, like Mary, always remember to praise and thank God for the wonderful things that God has done, is doing and will continue to do in your priestly ministry.
God bless you all.
