Homily at the ordination to the diaconate of Nkosingiphile Ngwenya
on the feast of the Exaltation of the cross
While the candidate to the diaconate and priesthood asks for the ordination to take place, it is the bishop who admits him to the ordination and chooses the day for the celebration to take place. So, it was me who chose that Nkosingiphile’s ordination to the diaconate should take place on this day when we celebrate the feast of the exaltation of the cross. It is also the day before this parish celebrates her feast: Mater Dolorosa, Our Lady of Sorrows.
I chose this day because the cross marks our lives. Think of our prayers which start and end with the sign of the cross, the blessings we receive end with the sign of the cross. We are anointed at baptism and confirmation with the sign of the cross. This will certainly sound funny but I can imagine God – who can see everything – being able to see the mark of the cross on our forehead!
Bishops add a cross before their name when they sign a document!
At the same time, it is important to be aware that we are not talking about just any cross. The Church today calls us to lift up our eyes to a very specific cross: the cross of Jesus. As we lift our eyes to the cross of Jesus, we allow this cross to talk to us directly to our hearts.
I see two different sides in this cross.
1. Jesus’ cross was not an accident. It was asked for, remember? “Crucify him” people shouted. Therefore the cross reveals the incredible amount of anger, lies, violence, thirst for revenge, a false sense of security and power… all the negative forces of evil.
The cross also reveals the values of a society, the choices people believe should be made: “Save yourself” is constantly repeated during his passion. People at the passion believe that a Son of God would manifest if he would “save himself”. Saving others was not in their minds!)
The cross also reveals the values of a society, the choices people believe should be made: “Save yourself” is constantly repeated during his passion. People at the passion believe that a Son of God would manifest if he would “save himself”. Saving others was not in their minds!)
2.There is another side. The cross reveals the face of God. As Pope Francis says: “the name of God is mercy” and that mercy is revealed to us on the cross.
Instead of hatred, indifference, vengeance, violence… the cross reveals unconditional love, compassion, forgiveness. We are able to lift up our eyes to the one on the cross without fear. We know our weakness but we do not feel judged and rejected.
Jesus’ open arms on the cross are not just an accident but a symbol of a God ready to embrace us all.
Instead of hatred, indifference, vengeance, violence… the cross reveals unconditional love, compassion, forgiveness. We are able to lift up our eyes to the one on the cross without fear. We know our weakness but we do not feel judged and rejected.
Jesus’ open arms on the cross are not just an accident but a symbol of a God ready to embrace us all.
3. Where the Romans imposed crucifixion as an instrument of fear, shame and death, Jesus not only faces the fear of the cross and accepts it but transform an instrument of death into one of love, mercy, forgiveness and new life. It is not the cross that defines Jesus but Jesus who defines the cross.
The cross reveals how far God is ready to go to give us fullness of life.
Nkosingiphile, you are being ordained deacon on the feast of the exaltation of the cross. The opening prayer spoke about your service. How far are you ready to go to serve others? How low are you ready to go?
This is always an interesting question to me because we tend to “raise up” people with the ordinations. The one becoming a deacon, a priest or a bishop seems to be placed some steps above the rest of the community and not lower, forgetting what the readings tell us today:
This is always an interesting question to me because we tend to “raise up” people with the ordinations. The one becoming a deacon, a priest or a bishop seems to be placed some steps above the rest of the community and not lower, forgetting what the readings tell us today:
that the one whom the Father raised high and was given the name which is above all other names first emptied himself, assumed the condition of a slave, accepted death and death on a cross.
Or, as the Gospel says, the one who went up to heaven, first came down from heaven!
We need to be aware of a tendency across churches where those in leadership tend to behave like civil leaders: they want to be respected, they expect a place of privilege in the community. Not the cross. The cross is preached to others. They even risk having a crisis if the cross reaches their lives and ministry!
But you and me cannot stand in the person of Christ unless we are ready to do as he did.
As you are ordained deacon today (hopefully a priest tomorrow and maybe a bishop “the day after tomorrow”) remember these two faces of the cross and make your choice.
You could be like the government of those days or any government who chooses to instill fear in the people or you could be like Jesus.
You could be the one crucifying people, putting crosses on people's shoulders or the one taking the cross for them like Jesus. You can bring fear or freedom. You can bring condemnation or mercy.
As I said, it is Jesus who makes the difference, not the cross. Keep your eyes fixed on the crucified.
We celebrate tomorrow the feast of “Mater Dolorosa”, “Our Lady of Sorrows”. Mary was not able to remove the suffering of her Son. She was not able to stop his crucifixion and death but… she was there! Standing by the cross. Standing in the eyes of everybody. Carrying the suffering, carrying the shame of a son being crucified.
In your service may you be the one people will find close to them as they carry their crosses.
Remember that Jesus – from the cross – still cared for his mother and the church. Never put yourself at the centre thinking that your cross is heavier than the ones being carried by others. Many times I feel that ours are much lighter. We are part of a structure that protects us in different ways when others seem to be on their own.
May your service as a deacon be marked by the cross. Keep your eyes fixed on the crucified and may the One who started this beautiful work in you, bring to completion.
