Mass Celebrating Twenty-Five Years of the Salvatorians in Canada

Parish of the Divine Infant—Orleans, ON

Anticipated Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year “C”)—January 30, 2016

LOVE AND GOD’S UNIVERSAL MISSION

Texts: Jeremiah 1.4–5, 17–19 [Psalm 71]; 1 Corinthians 12.31–13.13; Luke 4.21–30]

Fifteen years ago, Canadian dioceses hosted a visit of the reliquary of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, “the Little Flower.” In preparation, I began reading about her spirituality of the “little way.” I have continued ever since.

In her convent, Thérèse dreamed of travelling the world (she had wanted to go to the new Carmel in Vietnam), preaching the word of God, and, like the Doctors of the Church, enlightening souls with their understanding of the gospel. She wanted to be a priest. She believed God would not have inspired such passions in her without wanting to fulfil them.

She sought a resolution by reading Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. She found solace in his teaching that, just like a human body, the Church is composed of many different members (last Sunday’s epistle reading). However, she remained unsatisfied until she came to today’s passage on love, what Paul calls “a still more excellent way.”

There, she discovered what she was looking for. “I finally had rest,” she declared. “Considering the mystical body of the Church, I had not recognized myself in any of the members described by St. Paul; or rather I desired to see myself in all of them. Love gave me the key to my vocation... In the heart of the Church, my Mother, I shall be LOVE.... Thus I shall be everything, and thus my dream will be realized.”

Now declared a Doctor of the Church, Thérèse shows in her teaching how the most ordinary human existence can express extraordinary holiness. She invites us to follow her path of ‘spiritual childhood’, reflecting an attitude of unlimited hope in God’s merciful love. Though she never left her convent, the Church has named her co-patron, with St. Francis Xavier, of missionary activity.

Thérèse wanted to engage herself on the path of salvation. This desire also was deep in the heart of the founder of the Society of the Divine Saviour, Salvatorian priests and brothers. The “Salvatorian Family” also includes the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Saviour and the Lay Salvatorians (the International Community of the Divine Savior). The Society was founded 135 years ago by the Venerable Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan in Rome on December 8, 1881.

In keeping with the spiritual vision of Father Jordan, the Salvatorians are ready to spread the Gospel in any place, “by all ways and means.” Their members serve as pastors, catechists and teachers, home and foreign missionaries, authors, musicians, counsellors, spiritual directors, and workers in many other areas of ministry. Their goal is to proclaim salvation to all people, that all may know “the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17.3).

While the Salvatorians have been in the United States since their founding, they came to Canada, largely on the West Coast, only in the last quarter century. I was pleased to welcome them to Halifax while I was archbishop there. I am happy they came to Ottawa three years ago, in part to encourage devotion to the Divine Mercy, a key element in this year’s Jubilee of Mercy called for by Pope Francis.

God’s compassionate love prompts a mission of mercy to the nations in the founders of religious communities, as it did in the prophetic vocations of Jeremiah and Jesus. This we see in today’s other scriptures.

Jeremiah’s call was a difficult one. He was rejected by his own people, thereby becoming a “prophet to the nations.” Still, he learned to trust God’s Word before handing it on.

Jeremiah and Jesus share some points of comparison. They both faced hostility from those upset by their message. Jeremiah’s confidence parallels Jesus’ total trust in his Father.

Jeremiah believed God would deliver him. And Jesus understood that his Father intended to rescue him from death.

Jesus’ enemies thought they could silence him for good, but repeatedly he slipped away from them: “they led Him to the brow of the hill ... so that they might hurl him off the cliff; but Jesus passed through the midst of them and went on his way.” Later, Jesus would definitively escape the powers of sin and death in his resurrection

In the second half of His Nazareth address, which opened with a proclamation of God’s year of favour, Jesus articulated the meaning of his ministry. He was following in the footsteps of God’s prophetic servants.

Like Elijah and Elisha, Jesus offered God’s salvation to ‘outsiders’, to foreigners. Jesus’ rejection on the cross would bless all the nations of the earth as they came to accept the Good News, believe in it, and be saved.

The manifestation of God’s mercy, Jesus declared, extends from the poor and captive of Israel to all non-Israelites yearning for God’s favour. Jesus said that we can find precedents for divine outreach to Gentiles in the careers of Elijah and Elisha. In their ministries, many in Israel did not receive God’s healing touch, but Gentiles did.

Because they were not open to sharing God’s bounty with others, Jesus’ neighbours were unable to receive it themselves. In every age, believers are challenged to grasp God’s boundless plan of love.

We rejoice with and pray for the Salvatorians on the Silver Jubilee of their presence in Canada. Let us resolve to radically accept the gift of eternal salvation given to us in the life, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, and his outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the world, which compels love and mercy to flourish among us!

Dear brothers and sisters, emulate Saint Thérèse and Fr. Jordan. Let the Holy Spirit move your hearts today to be ever more surely missionary-disciples of God’s love and mercy. Your homes, your schools, and your places of work, recreation, and civic engagement, are your mission fields. The work of salvation continues to the ends of the world through you.

Photos: A Delaney

Ottawa Homelands Mass/Messe multiculturelle— La Basilique-cathédrale Notre-Dame 24.01.2016

3e dimanche du temps ordinaire (année « C »)—3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 

JÉSUS PRÊCHE L'ANNÉE JUBILAIRE DE LA MISÉRICORDE DE DIEU

CAR L'ESPRIT RENOUVELLE CONSTAMMENT LE PEUPLE DE DIEU

 JESUS PREACHES GOD’S JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY

FOR THE SPIRIT CONSTANTLY RENEWS GOD’S PEOPLE

[Nehemiah 8.2–4a, 5–6, 8–10 [Psalm 19]; 1 Corinthians 12.12–30; Luke 1.1–4; 4.14–21]

Bienvenue. Bienvenue chez vous.  L'Église est votre maison.

Welcome. Welcome home. The Church is your home.

Pope Francis, in his message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, urges us to do as Jesus did by proclaiming the good news of hope to all, especially to those in great need.

He says, “The mission of the Church…is thus to love Jesus Christ, to adore and love him particularly in the poorest and most abandoned. Among these are migrants and refugees who are trying to escape difficult living conditions and dangers of every kind.”

Dans l’église, nous avons souligné la journée mondiale des migrants et des réfugiés dimanche dernier. Nous avons toujours voulu faire le lien entre cette journée et la messe multiculturelle.

Le thème du message du pape François à cette  occasion était       « Les migrants et réfugiés nous interpellent. La réponse est l'Évangile de la miséricorde. »

Le Saint-Père mentionne que la migration continue de croître alors que davantage de réfugiés fuient leurs demeures. Il nous invite tous à ne pas prendre leur souffrance pour acquis.

« Plus que par le passé », dit-il, « l'Évangile de la miséricorde secoue les consciences. » Il a ajouté que les mouvements migratoires sont maintenant une réalité structurelle. La priorité immédiate doit être de s'attaquer aux causes de cette migration et aux changements que celle-ci entraîne, y compris son effet sur la composition des sociétés et des peuples.

Le pape François nous rappelle que les migrants sont nos frères et sœurs en quête d'une vie meilleure. Ils recherchent le soulagement de leur pauvreté, de la faim et de la répartition injuste des ressources de la planète.

Il poursuit en disant que tant les populations en mouvement que les sociétés d'accueil doivent s'adapter. Les sociétés d'accueil doivent répondre à ces défis afin d'éviter les préjugés ou le nationalisme extrême.

En se référant à la Bible, le Saint-Père nous rappelle qu'en accueillant l'étranger, nous accueillons Dieu. Dans les visages des autres, nous voyons le visage du Christ. La réponse humaine à l'Évangile est la miséricorde.

Pope Francis imparts on all migrants and refugees an Apostolic Blessing. He invites them to receive the hope and joy of God’s mercy, as manifested in the people they meet on their journey.

The pope calls the recent wave in human movement a new stage in the world’s history, in God’s saving plan for humanity.

In each of today’s readings, we see that the Holy Spirit, in response to historical movements, constantly brings about something new.

The Book of Nehemiah describes the time of the Persian Empire’s annexation of Israel. The Israelites had not yet rebuilt the Temple. The office of king had disappeared. In such a crisis, God’s Spirit moved his people to institute a new form of worship, the first “Liturgy of the Word” on record!

From then on, reading and clinging to God’s Torah handed down by Moses would shape God’s people. The people of Israel would place themselves before God’s revelation as it was read out in Hebrew and interpreted in Aramaic, their vernacular language.

Standing and attentively listening to the reading and its meaning—as we do when hearing the Gospel—the faith community let God’s Word move them to bless God. They agreed to live God’s truth by saying, “Amen, Amen” with upraised hands, a gesture that signifies how big heaven is. They would bow their heads and worship God prostrate on the ground—an act of submission.

The people wept upon hearing God’s law, probably from remorse for their failings. The priests consoled the people, urging them to rejoice and to share with others.

The fruit of liturgy is joy among God’s people: “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Each year, we rejoice in the variety of languages, traditional costumes, ethnic dishes, and the many spiritual gifts with which you enrich the Church of Ottawa!

In the gospel, Jesus declared that Isaiah’s prophecy was taking place in their presence. Isaiah had foreseen the fulfilment of God’s prescription in the Book of Leviticus, namely, a “year of jubilee.”

Isaiah said that this special event—to occur at 50-year intervals with debts being forgiven and lost land holdings restored to the poor—had been delayed. Now, Jesus declared, it was coming true in his ministry. Still, Jesus’ disciples would have to instil a jubilee attitude in every age.

In this fiftieth anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council, we experience the spirit of a jubilee year. We pray for repentance, reconciliation, and forgiving of debts. We hope to see hearts turn to God in pilgrimages to doors of mercy in cathedrals, shrines and other churches, and through various religious expressions.

Luke’s account of Jesus’ address in the synagogue portrays him as Saviour of all people, especially of those in most need. He proclaims release to the captives and lets the oppressed go free. Jesus is surely the Saviour of refugees and migrants.

Paul exhorte les disciples de Jésus à l'unité. Poussé par l'Esprit de Jésus, les chrétiennes et les chrétiens s'encouragent mutuellement en partageant leurs douleurs et en célébrant les bienfaits reçus.

L'analogie du corps — qui est « un » malgré ses « nombreux » membres — était un thème commun dans le monde antique. Paul l'a utilisée pour enseigner aux Corinthiens d'arrêter leur compétition pour les meilleurs dons spirituels ou les postes dans l'Église.

Au lieu d'avoir des favoris et d'exclure les autres, Paul a choisi l'unité. Il a écrit, « nous avons été baptisés dans l'unique Esprit pour former un seul corps... tous nous avons été désaltérés par l'unique Esprit. »

Ainsi, « si un membre [du corps du Christ] souffre, tous les membres partagent sa souffrance ;» et à l'inverse, « si un membre [de l'Église] est à l'honneur, tous partagent sa joie. »

Nous devons porter les fardeaux des uns et des autres et célébrer les bénédictions des uns et des autres, comme nous le faisons aujourd'hui à cette messe multiculturelle. Quelle merveilleuse expression de notre unité dans le Christ !

Puissions-nous vivre cette unité non seulement à la messe aujourd'hui et lors de la réception dans la salle paroissiale par la suite, mais à tous les jours. Tel est l'appel du Christ.

Paul urged the disciples of Jesus to unity. Prompted by Jesus’ Spirit, Christians encourage one another by sharing each other’s hurts and celebrating each other’s blessings.

We must bear each other’s burdens and celebrate each other’s blessings, as we do today in this Homelands Mass. What a wonderful expression of our unity in Christ!

May we live this unity not just in the Mass today, and in the reception in the parish hall afterwards, but daily. This is Christ’s call.

God bless each of you. 

Que Dieu vous bénisse tous et toutes.

Inauguration du ministère de Rémi Lepage, omi comme curé de la Paroisse Sacré-Cœur d’Ottawa

2^e dimanche du temps ordinaire (année « C ») — 17 janvier 2016

UN MARIAGE BÉNI PAR LA PRÉSENCE DE JÉSUS

(Textes : Isaïe 62, 1-5; Psaume 96; 1 Corinthiens 12, 4-11; Jean 2, 1-12)

Je me réjouis d’être avec vous pour cette célébration eucharistique alors que nous procédons à l’inauguration du ministère de Rémi Lepage, omi, comme curé de votre paroisse.

Cet événement est encore plus signifiant alors que nous soulignons cette année le 200^e anniversaire de fondation des Oblats de Marie Immaculée.

Nous célébrons tout ceci avec Marie. Marie, leur patronne, notre Mère, joue un rôle important dans ce premier signe manifesté par Jésus aux noces de Cana. Marie, que Jean appelle la «mère de Jésus», celle qui fait confiance, qui manifeste sa foi en disant tout simplement «Faites tout ce qu’il vous dira»; celle qui démontre son souci pour les nouveaux époux et qui se réjouit alors que la noce peut se poursuivre.

Avec Marie, Mère de Jésus et notre Mère, soyons dans la joie aujourd’hui.

*****

Nous venons de procéder à l’installation du Père Rémi Lepage comme votre nouveau pasteur. Il accepte ainsi de vivre son engagement sacerdotal avec vous pour les prochaines années.

À votre tour, vous êtes invités à l’appuyer dans le leadership de votre communauté de foi. J’espère, qu’au fil des semaines et des mois à venir,  vous continuerez de lui dire un «oui» empreint d’enthousiasme et de joie et lui manifesterez votre appui par une participation active à la vie de la paroisse. St Paul souligne dans la deuxième lecture de ce dimanche la diversité des dons donnés par le Saint Esprit à la communauté  des fidèles.

Récemment, le pape François demandait aux évêques et aux prêtres de ne pas être de simples «pilotes» mais d’être des «intendants et non des propriétaires, humbles serviteurs à la manière de Notre-Dame, et non des princes.»     Les propos du pape sont une invitation adressée à chaque prêtre à vivre l’expérience de la joie d’être berger «en essayant d’allumer le feu au cœur du monde.» (Evangelii gaudium, no 271)

Dans le cadre de son ministère auprès de vous, votre pasteur sera appelé à exercer son sacerdoce par la présidence des sacrements. Il le fera à divers endroits dans cette église (les fonts baptismaux, le confessionnal, l’ambon, l’autel).  Priez pour lui afin qu’il puisse le faire généreusement et bien. Parmi les célébrations qu’il lui reviendra de présider, il y a le mariage d’un homme et d’une femme, ici, devant l’autel, en présence de la communauté des croyantes et des croyants.

L’Église catholique enseigne que : «L’alliance matrimoniale, par laquelle un homme et une femme constituent entre eux une communauté de toute la vie, ordonnée par son caractère naturel au bien des conjoints ainsi qu’à la génération et à l’éducation des enfants, a été élevée entre baptisés par le Christ Seigneur à la dignité de sacrement.» (Code de droit canonique, 1055)

Les conjoints qui entrent librement dans l’union matrimoniale prennent un engagement indissoluble de fidélité l’un à l’autre jusqu’à la mort. Sauf s’ils en sont dispensés pour une raison valable, les catholiques se marient devant deux témoins à l’église durant une célébration présidée par un prêtre ou un diacre.

Les liturgies des Églises latine et orientales abondent de prières invoquant la grâce et la bénédiction de Dieu sur les couples qui s’engagent dans un projet pour toute la vie et, dans une invocation solennelle (épiclèse) «les époux reçoivent l’Esprit Saint comme communion d’amour du Christ et de l’Église.» (Catéchisme de l’Église catholique, 1624)

Dans l’évangile d’aujourd’hui, Saint-Jean ne donne, à ses auditeurs ou lecteurs, que quelques détails au sujet du miracle de l’eau changée en vin. Un problème tout simple mène à une intervention de la part de Jésus : le stock de vin est quasi épuisé. Marie transmet cette information à Jésus. Même si elle ne lui demande rien directement, Marie a supposé que son fils verrait bien à régler cette situation.

J’attire votre attention sur un mot en particulier dans le texte de Jean : le mot «heure». Alors que le mot «heure» fait généralement référence au temps, dans l’évangile de Jean, il pointe vers le moment de la  «glorification» de Jésus; heure faite de passion, mort, résurrection et ascension. (7,30 ; 8,20 ; 12, 23 ; 13, 1 ; 17, 1)  

Cette «heure» de Jésus ne viendra pas entièrement jusqu’à ce que Jésus soit élevé sur la croix dans une scène qui devrait vous parler à vous, paroissiennes et paroissiens de Sacré-Cœur. Je fais référence, ici, à la perforation du côté de Jésus par la lance du soldat.

Ce qui est bouleversant, et ce qui a manifestement bouleversé l’évangéliste, c’est que la même blessure, la même ouverture du côté, atteste à la fois du fait que nous sommes pécheurs - sans quoi pourquoi le cœur humain de Dieu devrait-il être transpercé si tout allait bien entre l’homme et Dieu – et à la fois du fait que cette blessure est le lieu d’où provient la source de notre régénération.

Le même regard porté sur le côté transpercé de Jésus - « Ils contempleront Celui qu’ils ont transpercé» - me révèle que je suis pécheur et qu’une vie nouvelle, le pardon, la miséricorde, la réconciliation, me sont ouvertes. C’est très éclairant. Quand on parle de cela, ça touche le cœur des gens et c’est source de grande joie.

Le pères Andrzej Jastrzebski et Rémi Lepage

Cette «heure» que Jésus mentionne à sa Mère, heure qui n’est pas encore arrivée et qui doit venir, nécessite la foi. C’est cette attitude de foi qui anime la mère de Jésus alors qu’elle invite les serviteurs à écouter son fils. Sa foi anticipe les fruits de la glorification de Jésus. («Tel fut le commencement des signes que Jésus accomplit. Il manifesta sa gloire ».)

L’abondance de bon vin a apporté joie et honneur à un couple au bord des larmes et de la honte. 

Encore plus, ce premier des signes de Jésus a suscité la foi parmi ses premiers disciples (« et ses disciples crurent en lui »).  Que la parole de Dieu de ce jour soit une invitation à une foi dynamisée et une joie énergique et évidente !

Photos de la cérémonie: Kathya Molino

La communauté oblate à Sacré-Cœur: les pères Andrzej, Rémi et le frère Réjean

Jesuit Father Laurier Harvey Served in India, Nepal and with the Missionaries of Charity

Father Laurier Crosbie Harvey, S.J. died peacefully on January 13, 2016 at Ajax-Pickering Hospital. He was in his 91st year of life and had been a Jesuit for 60 years.

The son of St. George Harvey and Pauline Laurier, Laurier was born in Montreal; his mother was the niece of Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier. After eight years of studies at Loyola High School and College, he entered at the age of 30 the Society of Jesus at Guelph in 1955. He pronounced first vows on February 2, 1957 and there followed a year of Juniorate. His studies of philosophy were divided, two years at the Jesuit Seminary in Toronto and a third year at Mount St. Michael’s in Spokane, WA. In 1959, he was granted permission to join the Jesuit mission in Darjeeling, India.

After theology studies at St. Mary’s College in Kurseong, he was ordained at Gayaganga on March 24, 1963. His Tertianship year of Jesuit spirituality followed at Hazaribagh. During his time in India from 1959 until 1982, he served in Darjeeling, Calcutta, Bhimbar, Matigara, and Gayaganga, mainly pastoral ministry and teaching. 

On his return to Canada, still desiring to engage in missionary work Father Harvey journeyed to Nepal where he served at St. Xavier’s School in Kathmandu from 1983 to 1989.

Following another return to Canada, he was assigned in 1991 to take up the position of chaplain to the Missionaries of Charity in Tomsk, Siberia. This was an arduous posting to say the least, but Father Harvey reveled in the challenges it offered. 

The House of Peace orphanage cared for children suffering from HIV-AIDS. Mother Teresa’s Sisters had set up a similar centre in the capital city of Yerevan, Armenia, and were seeking a chaplain, so he moved there in 1998 and served until ill health forced him to return to Canada to the Jesuit infirmary in late 2015. He made several visits to Pickering during his overseas postings, principally for medical reasons. Once he had recuperated he was always eager to get back to his mission.

An indomitable person with a strong physical constitution, nothing of missionary life ever fazed Father Laurier. The harder the posting, the happier he was. He was disappointed to leave work with the Missionaries of Charity and it became evident upon his most recent return to Canada that he was preparing for his journey to the Lord. A few days before his death, he joined the René Goupil Infirmary community for the weekly Saturday rosary in the chapel. He will be missed by his family and friends.

There will be a wake at St. Ignatius Chapel, Manresa Retreat House, 2320 Liverpool Road, Pickering, ON on Monday, January 18, 2016 from 7-9PM (with prayers at 8PM).

Celebration of the funeral liturgy will be held on Tuesday, January 20 at 10:30AM in the St. Ignatius Chapel, Manresa Retreat House, followed by a reception.  Burial will take place that same day at 2:30PM in the Jesuit Cemetery, Guelph, Ontario.

Requiescat in pace. 

Fr Antoine Nassif Today Named Syro-Catholic Exarch for Canada

Aujourd’hui à Rome, il a été annoncé que Sa Sainteté le pape François a érigé l’Exarchat Apostolique pour les fidèles syro-catholiques au Canada. 

Le Saint Père a nommé le Révérend Antoine Nassif son premier Exarque Apostolique; il est présentement Recteur du Séminaire patriarcal de Charfet, Liban.

*****

It was announced in Rome today that His Holiness Pope Francis has erected an Apostolic Exarchate for Syro-Catholics in Canada.

The Holy Father has appointed Reverend Father Antoine Nassif, currently Rector of the Patriarchal Seminary of Charfet, Lebanon, as its first Apostolic Exarch. 

Claude Hamelin is new Auxiliary Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil

Sa Sainteté le pape François a nommé l’Abbé Claude Hamelin comme évêque auxiliaire du diocèse de Saint-Jean-Longueuil (Québec).
Il est présentement Vicaire général du même diocèse.

Félicitations, Excellence!

Today His Holiness Pope Francis appointed Reverend Claude Hamelin currently the diocese’s Vicar General as Auxiliary Bishop of the diocese of Saint-Jean-Longueuil.

Prayerful best wishes, Your Excellency!

The Diaconal Ordination of Ottawa's Tavis Reginald Goski

The Diaconal Ordination of Tavis Reginald Goski—Holy Redeemer Church, Kanata, ON

                                 Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year “C”)-December 20, 2015

THE FAMILY: HOME OF LOVE AND MERCY

[Texts: Micah 5.2–5a [Psalm 80]; Hebrews 10.5–10; Luke 1.39–44]

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

“The Bible says the most beautiful thing that God created was the family.” Pope Francis spontaneously said this at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. This was after families from around the world told their stories of war and strife.

“In families there are always difficulties,” Francis said, “...Only love is able to overcome them.”

The pope added, “God’s love is so overflowing that…it had to be poured out of him.” “A family is truly a family when it is able to open its arms and receive all that love.”

The spotlight the Church placed on the family through two Synods of Bishops has led us in the Church of Ottawa to choose as our theme for this Pastoral Year, “The family, home of love and mercy,” with the scriptural motto “Be merciful just as your heavenly Father is merciful” (Luke 6.36).

In the Scriptures today, we see Mary immediately after her vocation, when she was called to be the Mother of the Saviour of the World. She exercises a “diaconal” ministry by going to serve her aging kinswoman Elizabeth who, after years of barrenness, had conceived John the Baptist, Christ’s forerunner. Mary shows that she is the “Mother of Mercy,” modelling for us the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

The gospel and our pastoral year theme evoke one goal: to help our parishioners in their families to experience love and, where love has been wounded in their families, God’s healing and renewing mercy.

Tavis is being ordained a deacon in the early days of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. I pray, Tavis that mercy will imbue your ministry, as you serve God and his Church, conveying his love to all you meet.

Pope Francis asks us not only to look for mercy, but also to show mercy. This sacred time is for mending bridges, putting things right, and welcoming the estranged.

Mercy is also about giving aid to those who need it. The corporal and spiritual works of mercy provide practical ways in which we should commit to helping others.

The readings we have just heard enrich the occasion of this ordination rite.

The prophet Micah lived in the eighth and seventh centuries BC. Micah’s powerful utterances are credited with converting King Hezekiah. This led to the reform of the southern kingdom of Judah and the renewal of its worship and life.

False prophets in Micah’s day ingratiated themselves with the rich. Unlike them, Micah did not court popularity. He was zealous for justice. He preached God’s judgement on sinfulness as well as God’s favour toward those who repented of injustice.

Micah summarized God’s expectations this way, “what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God” (6.8).

The book of Micah has been compared to a preacher’s file of sermons. Oracles of doom are mingled with words of encouragement. Some scholars describe the middle section of the book (chapters 3–5) as “false leaders denounced, a righteous king promised.”

Today’s verses contrast Israelite kings of the past with the glorious leader God has in mind, “whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.”

Kings born in Jerusalem had failed to meet the ideal. God promised to go back to Bethlehem, where King David was born, to find a messiah worthy of his lineage.

The New Testament describes God’s fulfillment of the ancient promises about his messiah with words like “lowly,” “humble,” and “hidden.”

In the last days of the reign of Herod the Great, who died in 4 BC, God sent angelic messages to an otherwise inconsequential couple, Mary and Joseph, announcing the virginal conception of Jesus, who would inherit forever the throne of his ancestor David. With faith, they agreed to participate in God’s design for humanity’s salvation.

In Luke’s gospel, to illustrate that “nothing will be impossible with God,” the angel Gabriel pointed to the conception of a child by Mary’s kinswoman, Elizabeth, despite her old age. This was the prelude to today’s gospel of the “Visitation” in which Mary, “in haste,” made the approximately four-day, 130-kilometre journey from Nazareth to “a Judean town in the hill country” to visit her relative.

Christians have made Elizabeth’s praise of Mary their own through the ages: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Mary is blessed, above all, for her humble faith, which is a model for all believers: “Blessed is she who believed there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord!”

In humility, Mary declared her praise of God in the Magnificat, which follows Elizabeth’s greetings in today’s gospel. During your seminary formation, Tavis, you have prayed Mary’s prayer yourself every evening at Vespers. My brother Tavis, imbibe Mary’s simplicity and humility, and stay close to your spiritual mother all your life long.

*****

Beloved brothers and sisters: since this our son, who is your relative and friend, is now to be advanced to the Order of deacons, consider carefully the nature of the rank in the Church to which he is about to be raised.

Strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit, he will help the bishop and his priests in the ministry of the word, of the altar, and of charity, showing himself to be a servant to all. As a minister of the altar he will proclaim the Gospel, prepare the sacrifice, and distribute the Lord’s Body and Blood to the faithful.

Furthermore, it will be his duty, at the Bishop’s direction, to exhort believers and unbelievers alike and to instruct them in holy doctrine. He will preside over public prayer, administer Baptism, assist at and bless Marriages, bring Viaticum to the dying, and conduct funeral rites.

Consecrated by the laying on of hands that comes down to us from the Apostles and bound more closely to the service of the altar, he will perform works of charity in the name of the Bishop or the pastor. With the help of God, he is to go about all these duties in such a way that you will recognize him as a disciple of him who came not to be served, but to serve.

Now, dear son, you are being raised to the Order of the Diaconate. The Lord has set an example that just as he has done, you also should do.

As a deacon, that is, as a minister of Jesus Christ, who came among his people as one who served, do the will of God from the heart: serve the people in love and joy as you would the Lord.  Since no one can serve two masters, look upon all defilement and avarice as serving false gods.

Since by your own free choice, you present yourself for the Order of the Diaconate, you should be a man of good reputation, filled with wisdom and the Holy Spirit, as were once those chosen by the Apostles for the ministry of charity.

You will exercise your ministry committed to the celibate state: know that celibacy is both a sign of pastoral charity and an inspiration to it, as well as a source of spiritual fruitfulness in the world. Compelled by the sincere love of Christ the Lord and embracing this state with total dedication, you will cling to Christ more easily with an undivided heart. You will free yourself more completely for the service of God and man, and minister more effectively in the work of spiritual rebirth.

Firmly rooted and grounded in faith, you are to show yourself chaste and beyond reproach before God and man, as is proper for a minister of Christ and of a steward of God’s mysteries.  Never allow yourself to be turned away from the hope offered by the Gospel.  Now you are not only a hearer of this Gospel but also its minister.  Hold the mystery of faith with a clear conscience.  Express by your actions the word of God which your lips proclaim, so that the Christian people, brought to life by the Spirit, may be a pure offering accepted by God. Then on the last day, when you go out to meet the Lord, you will be able to hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.”

Photos: Christopher Choquette