I just spent 5 days with 8
men on their canonical retreat in preparation for their ordination to the Order
of Deacon. Our own community is still on
an ordination high witnessing Fr. Matthew’s ordination to the Order of Priests.
The ordination of a priest
and a deacon is a heart moving experience, for the individual priest and
deacon, as well as for the witnesses of the ordination. The is full of ancient traditions: a greeting
filled with the same love expressed by Paul in his letter to Timothy, the
laying on of hands, the calling upon the assistance of the saints by the
community, the donning of the vestments of their respective offices and then
they receive a specific charge:
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Priests (Hands on the gifts of bread & Wine)
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Deacons (Hands on the Book of the Gospels)
|
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“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.”[1]
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“Receive the Gospel of
Christ, whose herald you have become.
Believe what you read,
teach what you believe and practice what you teach.”[2]
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Then there is the fraternal
kiss of peace. Together this is a great
image of perfect communion between God and his children on earth.
Paul’s letter is a sort of
rallying cry—as were most of Paul’s stirring messages. Here his powerful
summation emphasizes joy and hope. Before
putting forth the daunting challenge to Timothy to carry on the good work, Paul
urges him—and us—to join in a celebration, a recognition of what has been
gained, despite all the hardships. What has been gained at this point?
Everything! We have witnessed and experienced “the appearance of our savior, Jesus
Christ, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through
the gospel” (2 Tm 1:10).
Just as our priests and
deacons are set apart for particular ministries, the same Holy Spirit was given
to you at your Baptism, we all receive the same living Christ from the one
tables, confirmed with our ‘Amen’. This
is the same Spirit who provides you with power, love, and self-control. “For
God did not give us a spirit of cowardice …” (2 Tm 1:7). So eat and drink this sacred food, and so
nourished go into the world and courageously witness to the living hope of the reality
of Kingdom of God, here and now.
[1] RITES
OF ORDINATION. 2nd Edition (136), USCCB © July 2003. “Ordination of Priests”.
[2]
Ibid (210) “Ordination of Deacons”.
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