Homily by Archbishop Charles Jude Scicluna
Dear sisters, Daughters of the Sacred Heart, today is a day of profound joy and grace. You stand before God and the Church, ready to make your temporary religious profession. Today, you echo the “yes” of countless women and men who, through centuries, have followed Jesus Christ in consecrated religious life. Today, you step into a vocation that asks for your whole self – your time, your energy, your heart, your very being.
The Word of God in this Second Sunday of the Year helps us understand the essence of what you are embracing. In the Gospel, John the Baptist points to Jesus and says: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Let us dwell on these words, for they enlighten your vocation and the life you now promise to live.
A life offered for others
John the Baptist’s proclamation is simple but profound. He recognises Jesus as the one who offers himself fully, not for himself, but for the life of others. A lamb is not strong, it is humble, vulnerable, and ultimately self-giving.
In choosing religious life, you are following the Lamb of God. Your profession is not a claim of personal power or comfort, but a total gift of yourself for the service of God and others. You are called to reflect in your own life the same humility, simplicity, and generosity that Jesus showed.
Religious life asks you to lay down your own desires, to embrace chastity, poverty and obedience, not as burdens, but as a way of becoming more like the Lamb who serves, heals, and redeems. Today, you express the prayer of the Psalm – “I have come, Lord, to do your will” (Psalm 40). You are saying, in essence: Lord, I choose to live for you and for your people.
Recognising God’s voice in your life
John the Baptist also tells us: “I did not know him; but the one who sent me to baptise with water told me: ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain he is the one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit’” (John 1:33).
This is an important lesson for your vocation. Your temporary religious profession is not the beginning of your journey, but a continuation of God’s call in your life. Like John, you have discerned the presence of the Holy Spirit in your heart and in the life of the Church. You have recognised God’s voice calling you to a radical following of Jesus. That is why each one of you have come forward and responded today, at the beginning of the Rite of Profession: “Here I am Lord, you have called me”.
In the moments of prayer, in the challenges of community life, and in the demands of service, the Holy Spirit will guide you. Your profession is a public “yes” to listening attentively to God every day, even when the path is not easy.
A witness to the world
The vocation you embrace today is a witness. The world sees a life given fully to God and is challenged to reflect on its own priorities. In a society often focused on self-interest, your life will speak of love, selflessness, and divine beauty.
Saint John Paul II often said that the consecrated life is a “prophetic sign” in the world: a sign of the Kingdom that is already here. Every smile you offer, every act of service, every moment of prayer, and every sacrifice will silently proclaim: God is love, and love is worth giving all.
Encouragement in your journey
Dear sisters, religious life is not always easy. There will be moments of doubt, loneliness, or fatigue. Sometimes, there will be disagreements. But remember: the Lamb you follow is never far. He walks with you in the quiet of prayer, in the companionship of sisters, and in the faces of those you serve. He will never abandon you.
Your profession today is a covenant, a sacred commitment to persevere in love. As you make this step, trust that God’s grace is greater than any weakness you feel. Lean on your community and on prayer; these will be your lifelines. And always remember the words of John the Baptist: the Lamb of God comes not for comfort, but for the life of the world, and you are now part of that mission.
A life of love and joy
As you stand before the altar today, offering yourself to God, hear again the words of John: “Behold the Lamb of God”. Behold the One you follow, and be mindful that your life, offered completely, becomes a reflection of his love in the world.
May your religious profession today deepen your joy, strengthen your courage, and renew your desire to serve God faithfully. May your hearts always be drawn to the Lamb, and may your lives be a living witness of his mercy and peace.
✠ Joseph Galea-Curmi
Auxiliary Bishop
