Deacon, called to serve

(An excerpt from the Homily of Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao, September 1, 2021 during the live streamed mass of the Ordination to the Sacred Order of Deacon of Sem. Oliver Ganas in San Pedro Cathedral.)

The gospel that you have heard, you go about with the grace of God doing things, your duties. People will know that you are the disciple of Jesus by the way you serve. Since by your own free choice you present yourself to the order of the diaconate, you should be a man of good reputation, filled with wisdom and the Holy Spirit as like those who want chosen by the apostles for the ministry of charity. The pattern is not only today but you are chosen to do things according to the pattern of the early deacon, early servants of the church. In short I am taking this up because it is not just today Oliver ang imong genes as it were, ang imong linya, ang imong dignity, service, that is very ancient. So ancient but ever new because the life of God’s people is changing in different situation. But the core of your service, that is not invented today but comes from the early days of the church. Nindot kaayo mura ba ug gidawat naku ni, so precious that only we commit ourselves to continue in living out this challenge.

Now, ang sunod Oliver ang importanteng mark as you begin this life as an ordained ministry as a deacon, as newly ordained daku nga feature sa ceremony kining giingon sa rito, “You will exercise your ministry committed to the celibate state, note that celibacy is both a sign of pastoral charity and an inspiration to it. You know that Oliver and we know that. And we pray to God today that you would hold on to that because niingon diri as a great sign of pastoral charity of service to the people. Mag-ampo ta nga imo kanang mapuy-an, dili lang ikaw, ako, ang tanang nga naminaw karon.

And then lastly, ingon diri firmly, rooted and grounded in faith, you are to show yourself chaste, and beyond, before God and man as proper to the ministry of Christ and of stewards of God’s mystery. Never allow yourself to turn away from the hope offered by the gospel. Now you are not only bearer of this gospel but also its minister, hold a mystery of faith with a free conscience expressed by your actions the word of God which your lips profess, so that the Christian people brought to life by spirit you will be a pure offering acceptable to God.

The mission of the deacon around the altar, as well as the bishop and the priest is to be a witness to God’s people so that at end of the day as they would say you would become also in their personal lives acceptable offering to the Lord especially during the Holy Eucharist.