There was a young man also working there as a waiter. The young lady stopped me and called him over so that he could listen to our conversation. "Are there any young men who want to be priests in these difficult times?” I explained to her that Jesus will not abandon his Church, and, that he will always send priests to continue the work begun by his chosen disciples....and knowing what was the real issue in her mind, I also explained that in the Eastern Churches, a priest can be either single or married....and that in the East, during persecutions, it has been the married clergy who have safeguarded our Faith.
At the end of my explanation, which encompassed my talk about the vocation and beauty of the priesthood, the young lady said: I did not know how important was the role of the priest in the church and especially the role of the married priest, blessed is the name of Jesus.”
I have related this story to show just how much our young people wish to see the ministry of young priest who will make Jesus Christ present to them.
This evening, with you, I offer heartfelt thanks to God for the grace which he has bestowed upon his priests.....and especially so in this year which the Holy Father has dedicated to priests and their ministry. The thoughts of my heart go out to all the priests of our Eparchy in Australia and New Zealand; I bless their sacrifices and pastoral work, and, I encourage them to be ever renewed spiritually that their labours will bring forth a rich harvest.
My dear sons, Deacons Anwar and Elie
The ordination of a priest is a significant event in the life of the Church. It is an occasion for joy and delight. The candidate for priestly ordination spends many years in study, in spiritual formation and in practical experience. During these years, he is preparing to become a servant of the Good News, one who manifests the Lord’s love. This evening you are harvesting the fruits of your efforts and perseverance. For this reason, I repeat to you both, that which the Apostle Paul wrote to his student Timothy: "I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through my hands. God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.” (2Tim 1:6)
In my turn, I invite you to grow in these virtues:
1. The Spirit of Power
Any new priest, just as I was, just as all our priests were, is not worthy of the gift of the priesthood. However, God chooses the one of no importance, the weak, the lowly, to confound the powerful, the mighty and the important, "so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.” (1Cor 2:5). The priest receives his charism from the Holy Spirit who dwells in him and who makes form his labours, endeavours and prayers, a veritable reservoir of power.
The priest cannot draw strength from his own personality, his appearance, his wealth, or his knowledge. The strength of the priest comes from the knowledge that God is with him and that he is with God. Each time he feels his weakness, and, his inability to achieve, he will encounter God. Each time he feels alone or a stranger in this world, he will realise that he is strong, and, that his strength is from God.
2. The Spirit of Love
When the rich young man came to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus looked upon him and loved him. That divine love arose not because the young man wanted to debate with Jesus or to test him, but because Jesus understood that he was seeking to discern his vocation and to determine his future.
This evening, Jesus looks upon these two priests to be with great love, and, in turn, asks them to consider others with that same love. The priest is like any other Christian – he cannot attain to the love of Jesus without loving others. This love is a serving love – modest, patient, kind and humble.
If the priest does not love his brothers and sisters with this love, then he does not yet know Jesus...and no matter how exalted he becomes in the priestly ministry, without love, it will be of no benefit for his salvation.
3- The Spirit of Prudence
The priest is called upon to embrace gladly the spirit of Prudence. He is in this world, but as Jesus reminds us, he is not of this world. He suffers with those who suffer, and, he rejoices with those who are happy, but above all, he knows that he has left everything to be with Jesus. Pope Gregory tells us that "the spiritual direction of souls is the art of arts.” Therefore, the priest must be a physician of souls concerned with their salvation. However, all this requires that in his dealings with people, the priest acts with wisdom and prudence.
With these words, I address the two deacons who are resolved to be ordained to the priesthood during this Holy Liturgy that, for the remainder of their lives, they will serve the Holy Altars of our Eparchy which is most beloved of Christ. I urge you this evening, more than at any other time, to heed the words of Jesus to Peter, "Do not be afraid, it is I.”....our faith in Jesus Christ keeps the spirit of fear far at bay....because with and through Jesus we enter into the realms of the light that never fades.....and the one who is in the divine light is never afraid.
I also exhort you to be messengers of the Good News of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who took flesh, died and rose from the dead. In the first place may you bring this same Good News to the People through the Mystery of the Divine Eucharist.....indeed, the Bread of Heaven is the very life of the priest and the faithful. The focus of you ministry must be the Holy Eucharist for without it there is no priesthood, and, without it, no priesthood is needed! I desire that you possess unfailing enthusiasm, deep piety and the most profound Christian morality.
I appeal to you to be priests of the reconciliation. At your ordination the Holy Spirit has given you the grace to restore purity and virtue to repentant hearts, the power to destroy the hostility amongst the people and Strength to build bridges of love between them and discernment to open their hearts so that the light of Jesus enters. As your exemplar and your guide, take always the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy and Glorious Theotokos....she is the mother and guardian of all priests.
This evening it has been my very great joy to confer the ministry of sub-diaconate upon our dear son, Bernard Toutounji. I earnestly hope that this will prove to be the first step towards an ever deeper service of Jesus Christ and his Church. The future of our Melkite Church in Australia depends upon Australian Melkite vocations! It will be the critical task of our native born clergy to integrate our Church with Australian society, and, at the same time to preserve and cultivate the powerful authenticity of our Antiochian Byzantine tradition.
My sincere thanks to all those who have accompanied our three brothers on their journeys to their new ministries – their parents, relatives, friends, priests and teachers.
Glory be to God who has led to the holy altar the two priests, Father Anwar and Father Elie, and sub-deacon Bernard.
May the peace and grace of our Lord be with you all, dear brothers and sisters.
Issam John Darwish BSO DDEparch