I returned last Tuesday from my road-trip down to Nashville, Tennessee for the ordination of my friend, now priest. The rite of Ordination has many significant moments that highlight in an external way the interior reality of the man undergoing a profound change through his openness to the Holy Spirit to consecrate him to the Heart of Christ. 

After the bishop's homily, the men are called by name to present themselves. They leave their pew where they sat with their family to then stand before the bishop in the sanctuary. This is symbolic of their willingness to leave mother and father and cling to the Bride of Christ, Holy Mother Church.

As transitional deacons, meaning that these men were ordained first to the Deaconate with the understanding that they would later be ordained to the Priesthood, they once again promise obedience to their bishop and to live chaste celibacy. They now take on the priestly promises to faithfully celebrate the sacraments, pray for the church without seizing, and throughout their lifetime conform their hearts more to Christ's.

Then the men lie prostrate on the sanctuary as a sign of giving themselves totally to God, while the whole church kneels and chants the Litany of Saints in supplication for these men. This moment emphasizes the inner connections within the life of the Church. These men were called by Jesus from the midst of His people, from their families. They are ordained for the people that they may be sanctified through the sacraments. Together they call upon the Communion of Saints which is the Church triumphant in heaven. In this moment is a full realization of the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ, all connected in service to Christ for the sanctification of all.

Immediately following this solemn moment is the Laying on of Hands. The ordandi (the men to be ordained) kneel before the bishop who lays his hands upon their head, calling down the Holy Spirit upon them individually in silence. This gesture can be traced back to the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 6:6). After this, all priests present lay hands on the ordandi as a sign of the one priesthood in Christ. See the picture on the right of myself laying hands on Fr. Joe, my friend and now brother priest.

Though there is much more that goes on within the Mass of Ordination, I will conclude for now on this note. The life of the Church, whether that be in Tennessee, Rome, Europe, or right here on Addison St., lives and grows primarily by two sacraments: Baptism and Priesthood. Without Baptism, there is no People of God. Without the Priesthood, there are no sacraments and the life of the Church seizes altogether. Therefore, we must bring our families to the font of Baptism, and all the more we must encourage our young men to heed the call of Christ to become His priests in the world today.

There is a natural whiplash that should occur when reading the Gospel this weekend. We should be scratching our heads and asking "Is this the same Jesus that I've heard before?" In this Sunday's Gospel Jesus says, "Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division." (Luke 12:51) Before and after that statement there is talk about the earth being on fire and Jesus seemingly encouraging families to fall apart. 

It all stands in stark contrast to the same Jesus who says, "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9) and the Prophet Isaiah who foretold of the Messiah that "A bruised reed he would not break and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." (Isaiah 42:3). Which Jesus is the right Jesus to follow? Do we get to choose?

An old standard in biblical interpretation is to prefer the lens of consistency and when and where there is inconsistency, to search deeper into what is going on. The overall tone of the Gospels is one of compassion, empathy, understanding, love, forgiveness, and yes, being a peacemaker. That is the framework in which we properly see Jesus. So when there is a rare moment in the Gospel that Jesus says something outside that framework, it is likely that we need to examine the context and not just take it at face value.

Jesus lived in and spoke to a corrupted social order. It is less that the world itself lacks goodness, but that the political powers of Jesus' day were nothing short of evil. It is this twisted distortion of the world that Jesus wants to see eradicated, even put on fire.  Furthermore, when complacency leads one toward the path of injustice, Jesus rejects any sense of benign passivity. Jesus knew that neutrality favors the oppressor. Even in the case when the family structure, which is in itself good, becomes disordered, Jesus calls us to follow what is right and just over and above family loyalty. This context helps to connect this weekend's Gospel to the consistent message of Jesus which is about compassion, peace and ending division through understanding. 

What Jesus was speaking about in his time, is relevant to us today. Just this week we've seen the homeless of Washington DC be labeled as "criminals." If you've read other letters by me or spoken to me over the last few years, you know that I herald how Catholicism speaks to and challenges both political parties. You've heard me advocate on how we need healing from the divisions that plague us in the public sphere. All that still being the case, we must not fall into the complacency of this moment which is actively treading on the dignity of the human person. The Spiritual Works of Mercy demand of us that we shelter the homeless, not indict them. Our Catholic Social Teaching reminds us that persons experiencing homelessness are victims of an unjust social and political system, not agents of malicious vice trying to thwart society. 

We are living in a time not unlike Jesus did, where the social order is corrupted and malignant. There is no compromise to be made here and no privilege to be won in conforming to the injustices of deceit. Our current social conversation is not just about the political right vs. the political left. capitalist vs. socialist, nor any other labels manufactured to sew false divisions. The responsibility we bear as member of God's beloved family is to witness to the dignity of God's children even and against those who don't. This is the division Jesus seeks of us, a division not in and of itself, but a purpose driven response to do what is right in the eyes of God.  May we have the courage and fortitude to do this with love in our hearts, a love that flourishes when we fully embrace Jesus. 

Reminder – August 19 Events at Saint Andrew! 

We can’t wait to kick off the new school year with you!

New Family Reception – 2:30 PM in the Gym
Join us for a warm welcome, meet other new families, and learn more about life at Saint Andrew.
Ice Cream Social, Meet the Teachers & Used Uniform Sale – Starting at 3:00 PM
3:00 PM – Visit your classrooms and say hello to your teachers.
3:30 PM –Enjoy ice cream on the turf with friends and family.
Shop the Used Uniform Sale in the Social Hall.
Bring your school supplies if you’d like—drop-off will be available during the Ice Cream Social.

We look forward to seeing you there to celebrate the start of an amazing year!

Discover the Difference with Saint Andrew School! 

Are you seeking a nurturing and enriching educational environment for your child? Look no further than Saint Andrew School, where Catholic Education comes to life through faith, excellence, and community. Our dedicated faculty inspires students to achieve their full potential academically, spiritually, and socially. At Saint Andrew, we blend rigorous academics with character-building values, fostering a sense of purpose and belonging. Experience our vibrant campus, where every student is known, loved, and challenged to grow. Choose Saint Andrew School today and invest in a brighter future for your child. Enroll now and join our family! We have an upcoming tour on May 13 at 9am. Sign up for a tour here: schedule a tour New student applications for the 25-26 can be found here: New Student Application