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Ordination Homily My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: Jesus clearly and pointedly sets the tone for this ordination tonight: “It was not you who chose Me. It is I Who chose you!” The definition of Catholic priesthood cannot be fathomed unless we set it in the context of Jesus’ words just proclaimed in the Gospel. He not only chooses His disciples but He also assures them of His love and His support as He sends them forth for ministry. And in that call, He also challenges them to love one another as He does and to keep His commandments. Rex and Kirk, I am grateful to Jesus Who has called you to become His priests. I am grateful to you for having heard God’s call and having the courage to respond to His invitation. May your response always be generous and faithful as it is indeed today. My dear brothers and sisters, do you realize how fortunate and blessed we are? Not only did God send His Son Jesus to save us but Jesus established the priesthood to continue His mission among us. The continuing presence of Jesus is manifest in many ways but most dramatically in the celebration of the sacraments. This is especially true in the Eucharistic celebration. In the Mass, which is the re-enactment of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, bread and wine are consecrated and changed into His Body and Blood. These sacraments were instituted by Jesus and are effected by the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Moreover, our Catholic faith and tradition have always understood the biblical teaching that, this power, this authority, this ministry, have been entrusted to the Church. From Jesus to Saint Peter and the other Apostles and their successors, the bishops and their collaborators, the priests, this power to act in the Name of Jesus and on His authority is transmitted through sacred ordination. Through the laying on of hands and the intention of the Church, men are ordained priests of Jesus Christ. Ordained priests live and act in the Person of Jesus, not by any human power, but by the will of God for Jesus said: “It was not you who chose Me. It is I Who chose you!” More than one hundred years ago, the first bishop came to the Indian and Oklahoma territories as an Apostolic Administrator. His presence here meant the beginning of the formal organization and development of the local Church. One of his priorities was to bring sufficient priests to serve the people of this expansive area. Because of his enthusiasm and zeal, the Church flourished and grew. The Gospel was fearlessly proclaimed, the sacraments were celebrated and the Catholic people gave outstanding witness to our Catholic faith and tradition. Kirk and Rex, tonight you join the ranks of the hundreds of faithful priests who have served here in Oklahoma since the time of Bishop Meerschaert. Like each of those brother priests, you are called. You are chosen. You are being ordained to act in the Person of Christ. The continuing presence of Christ will be accomplished by your faithful action because as ordained priests, when you hold the bread to be consecrated, you will say: “This is My Body.” As you take the cup of wine, you will say: “This is My Blood.” When you raise your hand over a penitent’s head, you will say: “I forgive your sins.” As priests of Jesus Christ, you will truly act in His Name and on His authority. As is my custom at the ordination of new priests, I use the chalice which Bishop Meerschaert received in 1891 on the occasion of his ordination to the episcopacy. In his time, he acted in the Name of Jesus as you will begin to do tonight. Acting in the Name of Jesus and on His authority have serious consequences both for you and for the people of God. This call to ministry does not elevate you above the people but rather empowers you to serve them. Like Jesus, Who came to serve and not to be served, you must be servant to all. To be a good servant, you must be faithful to what Jesus has revealed and the Church authentically teaches. You are commissioned to proclaim the Gospel and not the current opinion or fad of the day. The Gospel is the Good News of Jesus calling us to repentance from sin and reconciliation with God and with each other. You are to be dispensers of grace through sacramental celebration. As you preside at the Eucharist and other sacred actions, your demeanor and your devotion will assist people to enter into the mystery of our salvation. The blue print for your lives as priests was given to you in tonight’s Gospel: “Jesus said to (you): ‘As the Father loves Me, so I also love you. Remain in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.’” He then encouraged you to be joyful, to be zealous and even to lay down your life as He did for us. Then He called you His friends and completed the definition of your priesthood: “It was not you who chose Me but I Who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name, He may give you. This I command you – love one another.” Brothers and sisters, I am convinced that the Lord has called Rex Arnold and Kirk Larkin to become His priests. I am assured that they have been properly prepared and are fully committed to the priestly life. Thus with great joy and confidence, I will ordain them to be priests of Jesus Christ to serve here in the Church of our Archdiocese. But before we proceed I ask all who are present here tonight, pray for these two new priests, Father Larkin and Father Arnold. Pray for all priests that they will faithfully serve God as they generously and joyfully minister to you and to the whole Church. Pray for the other young men in our parish communities who are also being called by God to become priests. Pray that they too will have the courage and the wisdom to respond to God’s call. Some of those young men might even be present here tonight. To you, then, I say “Come, join us so that someday you, too, can become good and faithful priests of God.” Most Reverend Eusebius J. Beltran |