Gospel in Art: Words of thanks on my Diaconate Ordination

This photo was taken moments after my Ordination to the Diaconate yesterday

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 16 June 2022
Matthew 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples: 'In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So you should pray like this:

'Our Father in heaven, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us. And do not put us to the test, but save us from the evil one.

'Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either.'

A few words I said yesterday evening...

Yesterday was a truly beautiful and powerful day. Thank you for all the messages of support you sent. Today I simply want to share the small speech I made last night in front of my family, friends and parishioners who travelled to Rome to attend my diaconate ordination.

" I would like to say a few words at the end of this truly beautiful day. But how can I put into words how blessed I feel that you are all here today and travelled over to Rome. I have felt overwhelmed by all your warming love and support.

When I sat down in my seminary room to write these few words, I wondered 'How can I possibly thank all the people who have helped me get to this point in my life, in the short span of a few minutes?'… But then I realised, all I need to do is thank One in particular…

Thank You God for blessing me with a mother and father who taught me from the very beginning, to always put You first in my life. Dad passed away in 1990 but he is here present with us in spirit. Very much so. I have felt his hand on my shoulder these last 32 years and encouraging me to keep dreaming in life, to keep moving and to keep building.

And here you are mum. You look radiant and beautiful as always… That's is the person you are!

Mum, the greatest gift you gave me was to provide me and my brother with a childhood so innocent and so beautiful , that it seems to have been a foretaste of paradise. I often think that my own desire for Heaven and to now serve Christ fully, comes from a deep rooted desire to know again the blessedness I experienced as a child. There was love and peace… and God quietly permeated everything with His Beauty. So thank you mum and dad for already giving me a glimpse of Paradise.

Thank you God for providing me with an amazing brother, a generous sister-in-law, two beautiful nieces, a strong family and countless friends who always stand behind me in everything I do… Your presence here is a testimony of your love for me…, and my love for you… and I thank you.

Thank you God for giving me a beautiful parish as my home in Pimlico. You have been the fertile soil in which my vocation was nurtured to blossom. Seeing your quiet witness and involvement in our parish every day, every week, every year, has only strengthened my resolve to want to be one God's priests.

I also would like to thank you God for having sent a spiritual father in my life 5 years ago who managed to look past my naivety, my inexperience and my sin. He saw my desire for the Lord and he told me that with time and dedication, hard work and prayer, I too could become a man capable of serving Christ as one of his priests. Father P., thank you for your all your guidance and friendship.

So here I am, ordained a deacon. What a gift! I somehow feel like my whole life has been leading up to this very moment. I can see God's hand in so many events in my past where He gently guided me through… to a moment when I could joyfully commit to serve him for the rest of my life. Today has been 51 years in the making.

One of the gifts of being a Deacon is that I now can bless people and things. THE very last thing Christ did before he ascended into heaven was not to say words, but it was to bless his friends, the apostles. (Luke 24:50 he blessed them, and was carried up into heaven). That is how important blessings were for Christ. So this afternoon in my room before coming here, I blessed a rosary for each one of you. I will go round now and give you each a rosary. May it accompany you wherever you go; may it protect you; guide you and above all bring you that bit closer to God.

Thank you all again for coming and God bless you all. "

LINKS

Christian Art: www.christian.art
Today's image: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-6-7-15-2022-2/