Ordination to the Diaconate
The joyful event of the ordination of Ricardo German, who is a seminarian in our diocese, to the diaconate took place last Saturday, March 7th, in Rome.
On that occasion, Bishop David Tencer OFMCap of Reykjavík delivered the following sermon:
Deacon – A Living Image of the Serving Christ and an Instrument of Divine Harmony
Dear brothers and sisters,
At the heart of the hierarchy of our Church shines an office that reminds us of the very essence of Christian life. When we look at deacons, we see not only the officials of the Church, but the Sacramental manifestation of Christ, who girded himself with an apron and washed the feet of his disciples. Today we would like to reflect on diaconal ordination as a living image of the serving Christ – Christus Dominus in the role of Servus (servant).
Christ as the First Deacon and Source of Blessing
Holy Scripture reminds us of a fundamental truth: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” Diaconal ordination is a special sacrament, in which a person corresponds to Christ who serves. We often think that the deacon is only there for others, but we must also see the other side of the truth: the deacon himself is the first to receive the gift.
By becoming a servant, he experiences in the depths of his soul the Lord’s promise that “it is more blessed to give than to receive”. His service is not a burden but a privilege, because in every helping hand, in every word of comfort and in every act at the altar, he receives grace from God that transforms him interiorly and fills him with supernatural joy.
The deacon as an instrument of God’s love
The service of the deacon is carried out in three areas: at the table of the Word, at the altar and in the service of charity. But for this service to be true, the deacon must be like a precious instrument. We know that even the best instrument can be out of tune due to the environment, the pressures or the worries of everyday life. Therefore, the deacon is called to tune himself daily after the example of Christ. His prayer, his meditation on the gospel, and his faithfulness in service are the gentle movements that the Holy Spirit uses to bring him into harmony with the heart of Christ. If the deacon does not tune himself daily to the “tone” of humility and obedience of Christ, his service can begin to sound false. But if he is in harmony with the Master, his life becomes a wonderful symphony that draws people to God.
A Bridge Between the Altar and the World
The restoration of permanent diaconal ordination shows that the deacon is a bridge between the liturgy and daily life. When the deacon proclaims the gospel on Sundays and then serves the poor during the week or works in his civic profession, he shows us that liturgy and life are one. He reminds us that every Christian is called in baptism to service, which is not a loss but a gain.
A Challenge to Gratitude and Service
Dear Brothers and Sisters, What Can We Learn from This Mystery?
Discovering the Joy of Giving: Let us learn from the deacons that true giving occurs when we give of ourselves to others. Then we are most like God.
Attune Our Hearts: Not only the deacon, but each of us must ask ourselves daily: “Does my life resonate with the love of Christ?”
Let us pray for our deacons: That they may be faithful to their vocation, that they may be “persons of goodness,” and that their instruments may never cease to play the song of divine grace.
Diaconal ordination is a gift that reminds us that the Church is a community of service. May the example of the serving Christ, made present by the deacons, inspire us to become a gift for others. Let us pray to the Lord that in our church there will never be a shortage of men who are willing to put on the apron of service and joyfully proclaim that God is love. Amen.
