Homily for the Ordination to the Priesthood, Sam West: December 19, 2009

Given by the Most Reverend Stephen E. Blaire at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton.

In the gospel of John, Jesus spoke these words to his closest disciples (the apostles): AS THE FATHER LOVES ME, SO I ALSO LOVE YOU. REMAIN IN MY LOVE. (Jn.15:9) It is John who presents the disciple as one who lives in union with Jesus and experiences the love of God. The deeper our discipleship, the greater our comprehension that we are loved by God. The beloved disciple receives the word of God which cleanses us from sin and purifies our hearts, and gives us the same joy that Jesus has in being united to His Father. There is an inner peace, an inner happiness that can only come about by living for God in union with Christ Jesus. To remain in this love we must imitate the self-sacrificing love of Jesus himself. LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I LOVE YOU. Discipleship is lived when our real, everyday lives, everything we do, is offered to God in union with Christ. We remain in Christ’s love when we embrace our life not as a possession to be indulged, but as a gift to be lived for others. When we remain in Jesus’ love, however, we are more than disciples rendering service to one another, we are the intimate friends of God.

These words from John’s gospel are spoken to you today, Sam, as an intimate disciple of Jesus, chosen to be a priestly apostle, sent forth to bring the word of God to others. The mission of the Church to go forth and bear fruit, bringing the word of God and God’s love to all, was entrusted to the Twelve, to be carried out by all the disciples, all the beloved of Jesus. The mission of the church today, proclaiming the word of God and bringing the love of God’s mercy and healing to our world, is entrusted to the care of the bishops in collaboration with their priests , to be carried out by all the faithful – to be fulfilled by all the members of the Church. As an ordained priest you are chosen to be a model for the people. St. John Marie Vianney, the patron saint for parish priests, whom the Church lifts up in this year of the priest , says to the people: THE PRIEST IS NOT A PRIEST FOR HIMSELF, HE IS A PRIEST FOR YOU. Ordained priesthood is not an honor bestowed upon a recipient. It is the ministry of a disciple ordained to shepherd and lead the Church in the name of Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd and Head of the Church. The priest is called to pattern his life on that of Jesus, each day to become more and more like Christ Jesus.

According to Luke, JESUS JOUNEYED FROM ONE TOWN AND VILLAGE TO ANOTHER, PREACHING AND PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. (Lk 8:1) Jesus was a presence everywhere, to the women who provided for him, to Peter’s mother-in-law, to the leper, to the paralytic, to the centurion, to the scribes and pharisees, to the crowds and to his disciples . The pastoral care of Christ’s people by the priest begins and ends with a personal presence. The priest greets the people in front of Church on Sunday, getting to know their names and something about them. The priest responding to a sick call, takes five or ten extra minutes to be with the family. The priest makes time and has time for people. I think of Msgr. Tom Hayes, who on the opening day of school was on the front steps greeting every child arriving. Regularly he was in the school yard talking with the kids. I think of Msgr. Bill Hughes who was at home in each of his parish assignments. He was a true parish priest who knew the people in the neighborhood. He knew their families, their burdens, their joys, their hardships and even their sins. He was a priest for them. When the priest hears confessions, he becomes acutely conscious of the heavy burdens which so many people carry. The priest can offer a word of encouragement, give people hope, remind them that God in some wonderful and mysterious way is present in their lives, no matter how convoluted or shattered their lives might be. The mystery of evil and suffering is beyond our grasp, but the priest by his presence encourages those who hurt and suffer, and reminds them that God has not abandoned them. The God of all mercy and love is there. REMAIN IN CHRIST’S LOVE.

This same presence of a priest with his people and among them is that of the priest presiding over the Church at prayer in the liturgy of the Mass and the sacraments. The priest who walks with his people on the daily journey of life is the priest who celebrates with them the sacraments of life. The bread of the eucharist nourishes our spirits; the wine of the new covenant purifies our hearts. Through the ministry of the priest, Christ in a very personal, real, sacramental way reconciles us to God and to one another so that we can remain in God’s love. The priest who celebrates Mass for the people without walking the journey with them is an unhappy contradiction.

The priest patterns his life after Jesus who PREACHED AND PROCLAIMED THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. The first responsibility of the priest is to preach the word of God; but he will not be able to do so if he does not remain in Christ, receiving into the very depths of his being the word of God, Jesus Himself. His preaching will be hollow and empty if he has not pondered the word of God in his mind and heart. A homily is not an explanation of the scriptures; it is not an exegesis; it is not a theological treatise; it is not a presentation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. A homily is an expository presentation of the living word of God which has been received by the church, pondered in the preacher’s heart and presented for reception to the people of God. One listens to the preached word of God so as to be guided in following Christ as a disciple in today’s world. One preaches a word of faith. One preaches to inspire and invite to daily conversion of life. One preaches to apply the gospel message to the circumstances of our times. One receives the preached word so as to grow in faith. Of course, a good homily rests on good exegesis; of course, it must be theologically sound; of course it must reflect the authentic teaching of the Church; but it is not preaching if it does not come from a heart imbued with the very Word that is preached. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of daily meditation on the Scriptures in the life of the priest.

Again it is St. John Marie Vianney who says: THE PRIESTHOOD IS THE LOVE OF THE HEART OF JESUS. Sam, Jesus says to you: REMAIN IN MY LOVE. Remain in my love as you walk the journey of life with your people. Remain in my love as you preach the good news of the kingdom of God.

Last Update January 11, 2010