Saturday, June 20 @ 11:00 AM
St. Augustine Cathedral

Please be seated and relax.

My dear friends,

On this most glorious morning, we come here to the house of our Father to do what we always do when we gather around the altar of the Lord: we come to give thanks.

First and foremost, we give thanks for the Savior and Redeemer, in whose death and resurrection you and I have the promise of eternal life. And with that blessing come all the blessings that have been showered upon us throughout our lives.

But today, in a special way, we gather around our three brothers and give thanks to Almighty God for them—for the men they are, the men they have become, and the men they will continue to become. They stand in our midst as husbands, fathers, grandfathers, fellow disciples, colleagues, and coworkers who have journeyed through the extraordinary adventure of life.

Brothers, as I mentioned to you last night, I say again here before your families and friends: you are a reminder to us of the wild love of God.

Thank you.

Consider how the Lord has accompanied you from the moment of your birth, in the midst of your families, through the rough and tumble of growing up, as you discovered your gifts, your talents, your faults, and your failings.

Through it all, you were loved and accompanied so that you could discover in your hearts the One without whom we have no life.

You have come not merely to know Him, but to love Him.

And in the struggles of life, the twists and turns, the surprises and challenges, Christ has accompanied and blessed you. Along the way, He helped you understand that you were never meant to walk through life alone.

And so He helped you discern the woman chosen to be your soulmate, your fortress, your guide, your rock, and your companion on the journey to eternal life.

With His grace, you discerned who that person was, and you entered into the great sacrament of marriage—a sacrament that has borne fruit not only in children, but in a love that continues to grow each day.

As I said to you last night, you can say clearly to everyone gathered here that without the love of your wives, you would not be here today.

They, too, enter in some mysterious way into this great step you are taking, because in the ministry that lies ahead, they will stand beside you and help you fulfill what the Lord is asking of you.

And then came the great adventure of discerning the diaconate—with all its obstacles, sufferings, challenges, and joys.

Yet you persevered.

And for that, we are grateful.

I am grateful that you have presented yourselves today, knowing that the same faults and failings you discovered as little boys may still remain in some form.

Like me, you know you are never fully worthy and perhaps never completely ready.

Yet you sit here freely and willingly to receive this outpouring of the grace of the Holy Spirit.

And for what purpose?

To do precisely what we heard in the Acts of the Apostles.

So that those called to preach and teach may be free to do so, while there are others—like you—who stand alongside that ministry, serving in the trenches of life, accompanying people in moments of challenge and joy, walking faithfully with God’s people.

You are entering into the sacrament that Saint Luke, in Acts, describes as service to the table, the Word, and God’s people.

You know this.

We celebrate this.

And my brothers already serving in the diaconate live this every day.

But not simply through what they do.

Rather, through who they are.

For after the laying on of hands and the consecration of the Holy Spirit, there will never be a moment when you are not a deacon.

So what does it mean to be called to serve?

What does it mean to say, “I am called to serve”?

In our world, service is often understood as an act rendered to another person.

Many people are employed to serve. They receive compensation for their work, and often we express our gratitude with a tip for the service provided.

You, of course, will not be paid.

(Laughter.)

Let’s be clear about that.

Others offer service through charitable works or material assistance for worthy causes. Many people of goodwill serve others in admirable ways.

But that is not what we are celebrating today.

The service to which you are being called is the building of the Kingdom of God.

It is the offering of your life.

It is the pouring out of yourselves—as you already do for your wives, families, and loved ones—one person at a time, so that in the name of Jesus Christ you may become coworkers with Him in building His Kingdom here on earth.

That is the harvest the Lord speaks of.

It is His people—those who already believe, those destined to believe, and those still searching for something more.

We live in a cynical world, do we not?

A world that is self-centered. A world that often lacks gratitude. A world absorbed with itself.

You are being sent out not for self-absorption, but for self-gift.

You are being sent so that others may have life through you, in Him.

And that is a beautiful witness.

I cannot begin to imagine how many people will come to faith because of your witness and fidelity, because of your kindness and mercy, because of the ways you will walk with people whom perhaps no one else is willing to accompany.

Through Jesus Christ, you will change lives.

That is why what we celebrate today is such an awesome gift.

And that is why I am deeply grateful that you are willing to serve—not as the world understands service, but as the Lord Jesus asks it.

As is our custom, we always celebrate ordinations on Saturdays.

Not simply because it is convenient, my friends, but because Saturday belongs to Our Lady.

Throughout the world, Christians honor the Blessed Mother on every Saturday because she knows better than anyone what it means to serve.

She summarizes the entire Christian faith in the simple words she spoke at Cana:

“Do whatever He tells you.”

She remains in the shadows, always pointing others toward Christ.

She poured out her life for her Son.

And she teaches us—as disciples, as deacons, and as Christians—to do the same.

She will always be there for you.

In moments when you are exhausted, discouraged, uncertain, or questioning, turn to her.

She will guide you back to this moment.

And your “yes” will continue to echo through the ages as you become living sacraments of Christian service, helping to build the Kingdom of God one broken heart at a time.

Thank you.

May God bless you abundantly, continue to bless you, and grant me the joy of working alongside you in ministry and accompanying you in life as deacons of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Congratulations, and may God bless you all the days of your life, through Christ our Lord.

Amen.