[Editors Note: Saint Miriam has the wonderful blessing of a seated Diocesan Bishop serving as our Pastor. During the predominate portion of the year, ‘Monsignor Jim’ serves under his this title and remains a Franciscan priest, but when the need arrives for him to exercise his Office as a Bishop Ordinary, the liturgical practices of a sacred ordination event come to Saint Miriam and he, now in his fourteenth year of his episcopacy, uses the fullness of the office to ordain. We have balanced well this dichotomy of office to serve the people. We also have the added blessing of a retired Bishop n Residence in Father Ken! So, two bishops actually serve our parish well! This Sunday is one such event when Monsignor +Jim once again is Bishop +James and we welcome a new Deacon! Here is his blog for this week. Join us this Sunday!]
Dear Friends,
In our Gospel passage from Matthew appointed for today, we are reminded that Jesus asks a deeply personal question: “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answers in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” His confession becomes the foundation of a life of service and leadership in our Church.
Today, as we celebrate the ordination of Michael Ball to the Sacred Order of Deacon, we are reminded that ministry begins with this very same profession of faith. A deacon is called not simply to wear a stole or serve at the altar, or to wear a Roman Collar for recognition and respect, but to actually know Christ, proclaim Christ, and serve Christ by being a true servant of all God’s people.
As a Franciscan priest, pastor and bishop, I can tell you with all certainty that every good priest is always at his heart, a deacon first. Once a church leader forgets how to be a deacon, he fails. It may not be apparent as an unexpected grave illness, but in the long term, it is just as deadly for them, and for humankind, and for Mother Church, too. We must always be deacons, servants, willingly and with open hearts.
When I received the Mandate to be consecrated to the Episcopacy, I only agreed if I could remain a Friar and an active Pastor. The College of Bishops agreed and now, thanks to Michael, I get to don on my liturgical vestments to fulfill that mandate some 14 years ago, one who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders as a successor of the Apostles. I do not take this lightly and, in my heart, I am still a pastor and deeper still, a deacon.
Mike’s ordination today is therefore both a celebration and a calling but it does not end today; today is only the beginning of God will do through him. Like Peter, Mike will be entrusted with something precious—not for himself, but for the building up of God’s Church. It is also a vivid recognition that God is never done calling! We, in church parlance, often refer colloquially to this spiritual journey as the ‘Hound of Heaven’, a poem written by English writer Francis Thompson, published in 1893. It describes a person’s frantic, long-running escape from God. God is shown as a hound. He tracks the human soul with steady, loving, and unstoppable speed until the runner gives up! God tells the runner that earthly things betray him because he tries to hide from divine love. The poem ends with the soul finally stopped, stripped of pride, and found. Today, we are all witnessing another ‘finding’ of God. Today, for possibly the first time in his life, Mike will be truly found, truly home. I pray so.
God is relentless in His call and yet life sustaining in our journey. It is never easy. Many fail, some leave, and others succumb to the pressures and betrayals of ministry. It is often lonely and overwhelming. The events that come to those of us in collar are often moments of deep sadness, peril, or strife. We are called to stay ‘in the water’ with those who come. It is our life. And if we allow God to remain within us, we shall endure through it all. No, not always flourishing, not always understood, but serving to the life we are called to as clergy listening for the heartbeat of God.
I am grateful to those who allowed me to ‘see’ Michael and to discern his calling. I am grateful to his wife, Mary Ann, for granting her blessing and support to achieve a lifelong dream that began so long ago, and at times, seemingly unreachable. And yet, God is good and faithful. God saw Mike’s heart and knew that one day, he would achieve this day and anointing on his life.
May his ministry among us at Saint Miriam always reflect the heart of Christ: humble in service, joyful in faith, generous in compassion, and willing to meet people wherever they are.
Today, we all gather to rejoice with Michael, Mary Ann, his family and friends, and our entire Saint Miriam community. May his diaconal ministry help all of us answer Peter’s question with our own lives: “You are the Christ”—and because we believe, we serve.
oremus pro invicem,
+James