Homily for the Ordination to the Deaconate of Tho Bui, SDB, and to the Priesthood of Chinh Nguyen, SDB: June 10, 2006

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

The words of Don Bosco on the cover of the ordination booklet express well what it means to be ordained to ministry in the Church. “For you I study, for you I work, for you I live, for you I am ready even to give my life.”

I do not know whether Don Bosco was addressing these words to God or to the people he was serving. It matters not, because to love God is to love one’s neighbor. To serve God is to serve God’s people.

The candidates for deaconate and priesthood are asked questions to ascertain their dispositions to be ordained. I would add this most fundamental question: “Do you love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength?” And “Do you love your neighbor as yourself?” Ordained ministry can only be understood as a ministry of love. “Greater love than this no one has, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” The deacon and the priest give their lives for those they are anointed to serve.

The words of Don Bosco: FOR YOU I STUDY. The preparation of the deacon and the priest is never finished. They must be schooled daily in prayer, study and meditation on the Word of God found in the Scriptures and the living Tradition of the Church. Those who do not pray and study the Word of God soon become spiritually dull and end up being mere functionaries of ecclesiastical tasks.

FOR YOU I WORK. Ministry in the Church is work. The priest continues the work of Christ by preaching the Kingdom of God, healing the sick, forgiving the sinner, casting out evil spirits, and carrying out the will of God as Jesus did. The priest’s first responsibility is to preach the Word of God, to move people’s hearts to conversion to Christ. In his sacramental ministry he brings Christ’s healing to those who are sick and reconciliation to those who have sinned. His most excellent responsibility is to stand at the altar celebrating the Eucharist in the name of all the people and with them offering themselves through Christ in praise and thanksgiving to God. The priest as the spiritual leader of the community must stand against the forces of evil and serve God as a prophet
for the love, peace and justice that comes from God. The deacon works in the name of Christ as the minister of justice and charity through preaching the gospel and serving the poor.

FOR YOU I LIVE. The deacon sacramentally represents Jesus as the servant of God. The deacon lives as a servant. The priest sacramentally represents Jesus as the head and shepherd of the Church. The priests lives as a shepherd.

Again Don Bosco: FOR YOU I AM READY EVEN TO GIVE MY LIFE. The ministry of the priest and the deacon, if it is to be fruitful, must be generous in all aspects. Indeed priests and deacons have human needs for affirmation and friendship; for rest, relaxation and legitimate human enjoyments. But they do wrong if they cloud their ministry with greed, or ambition for status and public acclaim, or in any way abuse their position to the detriment of others. Jesus has given us the standard for ordained ministry: “Whoever wishes to be first among you must be your servant; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Tho and Chinh, may God grant you through the grace of the Holy Spirit to faithfully serve as deacon and priest in the Church in the name of Jesus, the Lord, for the glory and honor of God our Father.

Last Update February 28, 2007