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Pope Benedict XVI- Homily |
Papal Homily - Ordination Mass
"The Lord's Goodness Is Always With You, and It Is Powerful"
H.H. Benedict XVI
St Peter's Basilica
Fourth Sunday of Easter, 29 April 2007
www.zenit.org
ORDINATION OF NEW PRIESTS FOR THE DIOCESE OF ROME
Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate and the Presbyterate,
Dear Ordinandi,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today, the Fourth Sunday of Easter traditionally known as "Good
Shepherd Sunday", has a special significance for us who are gathered
in this Vatican Basilica. It is an absolutely unique day especially
for you, dear deacons, upon whom, as Bishop and Pastor of Rome, I am
pleased to confer priestly Ordination. In this way you join our "presbyterium".
Together with the Cardinal Vicar, the Auxiliary Bishops and the
priests of the Diocese, I thank the Lord for the gift of your
priesthood which enriches our Community with 22 new Pastors.
The theological density of the brief Gospel passage which has just
been proclaimed helps us to perceive better the meaning and value of
this solemn Celebration.
Jesus speaks of himself as the Good Shepherd who gives eternal life
to his sheep (cf. Jn 10:28). This image of the shepherd is deeply
rooted in the Old Testament and dear to Christian tradition. The
Prophets attributed to David the title: "Shepherd of Israel", which
hence possesses an indisputable messianic importance (cf. Ex 34:23).
Jesus is the true Shepherd of Israel, since he is the Son of Man who
desired to share the condition of human beings to give them new life
and lead them to salvation.
Significantly, the Evangelist adds to the term "shepherd" the
adjective kalós, good, which he only uses with reference to Jesus
and his mission. In the account of the Wedding at Cana, the
adjective kalós is also used twice to signify the wine offered by
Jesus, and it is easy to see it as a symbol of the good wine of
messianic times (cf. 2:10).
"I give them (that is, to my sheep) eternal life and they shall
never perish" (Jn 10:28). These are the words of Jesus, who had said
a little earlier, "the good shepherd lays down his life for his
sheep" (cf. Jn 10:11).
John uses the verb tithénai -- to offer, which he repeats in the
following verses (cf. 15,17,18). We find the same verb in the Last
Supper narrative when Jesus "laid aside his garments" in order to
"take" them back later (cf. Jn 13:4,12).
Thus, it is clear that the intention is to affirm that the Redeemer
has absolute freedom to do with his life as he chooses and thereby
give it up or take it back freely.
Christ is the true Good Shepherd who gave his life for his sheep,
for us, sacrificing himself on the Cross. He knows his sheep and his
sheep know him, just as the Father knows him and he knows the Father
(cf. Jn 10:14-15).
This is not a matter of mere intellectual knowledge but of a
profound, personal relationship: a knowledge of the heart, of one
who loves and one who is loved; of one who is faithful and one who
knows how to be trustworthy.
It is a knowledge of love, by virtue of which the Pastor invites his
sheep to follow him and which is fully manifest in the gift of
eternal life that he offers to them (cf. Jn 10:27-28).
Dear Ordinandi, may the certainty that Christ does not abandon us
and that no obstacle can prevent the accomplishment of his universal
plan of salvation be a cause of constant consolation -- also in
difficulties -- and steadfast hope for you. The Lord's goodness is
always with you, and it is powerful.
The Sacrament of Orders, which you are about to receive, will make
you sharers in the very mission of Christ; you will be called to
scatter the seed of his Word, the seed that carries in itself the
Kingdom of God; to dispense divine mercy and to nourish the faithful
at the table of his Body and Blood.
To be his worthy ministers, you must ceaselessly nourish yourselves
with the Eucharist, source and summit of Christian life.
In approaching the altar, your daily school of holiness, of
communion with Jesus, of the way of entering into his sentiments in
order to renew the sacrifice of the Cross, you will increasingly
discover the richness and tenderness of the love of the divine
Teacher, who today is calling you to a closer friendship with him.
If you listen docilely to him, if you follow him faithfully, you
will learn to express in your life and in your pastoral ministry his
love and his passion for the salvation of souls.
With Jesus' help, dear Ordinandi, each one of you will become a Good
Shepherd, ready, if necessary, to lay down your life for him.
Thus it was at the beginning of Christianity with the first
disciples, while as we heard in the First Reading the Gospel
continued to be disseminated amid consolations and difficulties.
It is worth stressing the last words in the passage from the Acts of
the Apostles which we have heard: "The disciples were filled with
joy and with the Holy Spirit" (13:52).
Despite the misunderstandings and disagreements, about which we have
heard, the apostle of Christ does not lose joy; indeed, he is a
witness of that joy which flows from being with the Lord and from
love for him and for the brothers and sisters.
On today's World Day of Prayer for Vocations, whose theme this year
is: "The vocation to the service of the Church as communion", let us
pray that all who are chosen to such a lofty mission may be
accompanied by the prayerful communion of all the faithful
Let us pray that in every parish and Christian community attention
to vocations and to the formation of priests will increase: it
begins in the family, continues at the seminary and involves all who
have at heart the salvation of souls.
Dear brothers and sisters who are taking part in this evocative
celebration, and in the first place you, relatives, family members
and friends of these 22 deacons who will shortly be ordained
priests!
Let us surround these brothers of ours in the Lord with our
spiritual solidarity. Let us pray that they may be faithful to the
mission to which the Lord is calling them today and ready to renew
their "yes" to God, their "here I am", every day without reserve.
And let us ask the Lord of the harvest on this Day for Vocations to
continue to bring forth many holy priests who are totally dedicated
to the service of the Christian people.
At this most solemn and important moment of your life, dear
Ordinandi, I once again address you with affection. On this day
Jesus repeats to you: "I no longer call you servants, but friends".
Welcome and nurture this divine friendship with "Eucharistic love"!
May Mary, the heavenly Mother of priests, accompany you. May she who
beneath the Cross united herself with the Sacrifice of her Son and
after the Resurrection accepted together with the other disciples
the gift of the Spirit, help you and each one of us, dear brothers
in the priesthood, to allow ourselves to be inwardly transformed by
God's grace.
Only in this way is it possible to be faithful images of the Good
Shepherd; only in this way can we carry out joyfully the mission of
knowing, guiding and loving the flock which Jesus acquired at the
price of his blood. Amen.
© Copyright 2007 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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