Given at the ordination to the diaconate of Julian Davies at the Five Precious Wounds, Stonebridge Park on the feast of Ss Timothy and Titus, January 26th 2019
My brother Julian, beloved of the Lord,
The opening hymn invokes the power of the Holy Spirit whose sevenfold gifts will help you to carry out faithfully the work of the ministry of deacon. Our prayer today is that God’s gift, which is the Spirit of power and love and self-control, will fan into a flame the gift which God gives you and which the deacons Ss Stephen, Vincent and Lawrence carried before you. We sang and prayed, ‘O comforter, draw near, within my heart appear, and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.’ In this ministry you are to rely on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy. You are called to foster the call to holiness in God’s holy people so that they may rejoice in the life of the kingdom of justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit and show forth the virtues in their lives of charity and service. As a deacon, you are to witness to this life and are called to model it for others.
The feast of the Saints Timothy and Titus is an auspicious day to be ordained a deacon. You are invited to commend your ministry to their care as disciples, martyrs and bishops. St Timothy, accompanying St Paul, helped to found the churches in Corinth, Thessalonica and Philippi. He then worked hard to build the faith and see the growth of the Church in Asia Minor. Timothy becomes the bishop of Ephesus and needs a lot of support and encouragement from Paul, when fear dominates his life and feels the burden of his office. He is martyred under the emperor Nerva, allegedly for protesting against the pagan worship of the goddess Artemis. The beautiful description of the handing of faith in a family is described by St Paul when he remembers Timothy’s grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice. A particular challenge today is to help families deepen, hand on and build their lives of faith. Your own journey towards the Catholic priesthood reminds us of your search for the truth to pursue in life and we acknowledge the gifts which you have received from the Church of England in your own pilgrimage and service of God’s holy people.
We hear that Titus accompanies Paul and Barnabas to the Council in Jerusalem and so he has intimate knowledge of the power of the Holy Spirit at work in that event. Later he is sent to organise the collection for the poor in Jerusalem. Your ministry as a deacon is bound integrally to the care of the poor and preaching the solidarity of the church with the poor. In this diocese of stark contrasts, poverty and riches living cheek by jowl, the deacon is called to proclaim the ministry of mercy so that hearts are converted to the care of the poorer and more vulnerable women and men in our midst, injustice is transformed, and solidarity built between people. The Beatitudes are the new wineskins and show the path to follow Jesus the Way, the Truth and the Life.
You will recall that during the persecution of the Emperor Valerian in 258 AD, the prefect of Rome organised the martyrdom of Pope Sixtus II and then commanded St Lawrence, the deacon of Rome, to gather the wealth of the Church for the city treasury. He was given three days to complete this task and sold many church treasures, gave the money to the poor and then brought the prefect the treasures of the Church: the poor, the crippled, the blind, the weakest, the widows and orphans and the most destitute. ‘Behold in these poor persons the treasures which I promised to show you; to which I will add pearls and precious stones, those widows and consecrated virgins, which are the Church's crown.’ He was then martyred on the gridiron. From the very beginning, diaconal ministry has consisted in the service of offering, especially in offering of service and charity, even to martyrdom. ‘Greater love has no-one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.’ (John 15:13)
Diaconal ministry is focused around the altar since everything in the Church, beginning with charity, has its origin in the Most Holy Eucharist. You will assist the priest at the altar and give God’s holy people the gift of Christ’s blood from the chalice. In this way your service is bound more deeply to the offering of Christ in the Mass and the love poured out for the good of others. Reverence this ministry and remember the One who gave his life for you. Model yourself on Christ, who is the Truth. Words from the opening hymn can become your prayer: ‘Let holy charity mine outward vesture be, and lowliness become mine inner clothing.’
The bond between bishop and deacon which is so ancient is symbolised by the sole laying on of hands by the bishop. Grow in the obedience of your diaconal promises in prayer and obedience and chastity. The promise of celibacy invites a deeper modelling of your life on Christ and deeper service of God’s people. The gospel we have heard invites total trust in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. It invites stability in the place where you are sent to serve. You are called to proclaim there, ‘The kingdom of God is very near to you.’
Julian, you continue to prepare for priestly ordination. As a priest you will remain a deacon and so are called to deepen the service of charity. In celebrating the sacraments, you will be more deeply bound to Christ as Priest and Head of the Church. Treasure these months as a deacon as an opportunity to serve and grow in love for your people. Continue to ask the assistance of the Holy Spirit so that you can serve with generosity and gratitude.