Homily by Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi
“That your joy may be complete” (Jn 16:24). These are the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel. Today is a day filled with joy, a day of great grace for the Church. Through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the Lord is consecrating with his Spirit David, Ryan and Jerome, whom he has called, and is sending them into the world as ministers of his love and mercy.
Ordination, first and foremost, is a mystery of divine love. Before the “yes” of man, there is the call of God. Before it is a mission entrusted by the Church, it is an initiative born in the very heart of God himself.
Today, dear brothers who are about to be ordained priests, the Church looks upon you with love and trust. But even more than that, God looks upon you with love. The Gospel we have just heard from John places before us these beautiful and consoling words of Jesus: “The Father himself loves you” (Jn 16:27). These words are addressed to you as well. At the heart of priesthood lies this truth: the priest is, before all else, a man loved by God.
A man of God
Before the priest belongs to the people, he must belong to God. Before he speaks about God, he must live in communion with him. Before he becomes a shepherd, he must remain a disciple. This is the foundation of all priestly ministry.
The prophet Isaiah says: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me” (Is 61:1). Today these words take on a particular life. Through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, you will become one with Christ, the High Priest, to become living signs of Christ in the midst of his people.
The world needs priests who know God, who pray, who listen to the Word, who remain close to Christ, and who proclaim his presence through the simplicity and authenticity of their lives. A priest who no longer prays gradually becomes empty. But a priest grounded in prayer becomes an instrument through whom God can touch hearts, heal wounds, and awaken hope.
Dear brothers, guard your relationship with Christ above all else. Be faithful to your prayer. Treasure your silence before God. Your ministry will bear fruit not primarily because of your talents – that are beautiful and appreciated – but because you remain united to the Lord.
Chosen not for power but for mission
Today’s Word of God makes it clear that the priesthood is always linked to mission. Isaiah speaks about bringing good news to the poor, healing the broken hearted, consoling those who mourn, and setting captives free. In the Gospel, Jesus reminds the disciples that he came forth from the Father and entered the world. There is always an outward movement. God sends.
For this reason, the priest can never live for himself. The priesthood is not a matter of power or prestige. It is a call to the complete gift of oneself. It is a call to become a servant after the example of Christ himself.
Dear brothers, you are being sent to be servants in the concrete realities of human life: among those who suffer, those who doubt, those who feel abandoned, families carrying heavy burdens, the poor and forgotten, those searching for meaning in life, and sinners longing for mercy.
Remember: a priest must never close himself off in comfort or routine. His heart must remain missionary – the three of you surely understand this in connection with your own charism. Even when serving in one community, the heart of the priest must reflect the heart of Christ: a heart always seeking those who are distant and wounded. Today the Church needs priests who have the courage to go out and meet people where they are. Priests who are not afraid to listen, to welcome, to accompany, and at times simply to remain present with those who suffer.
Servants of God’s love
In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks powerfully about the Father’s love. This is important because the priest is called to be a sign and bearer of this love of God. The priest does not preach himself. He preaches Christ. He does not dispense his own mercy. He becomes an instrument of God’s mercy. He does not gather people around his own personality. He leads them to the Lord.
We all recognize how much this is needed today. We encounter many people whose lives are marked by loneliness, anxiety, division, and fear. Many carry hidden wounds. At times they no longer know where to seek hope. The priest is called to enter into these realities carrying within himself the compassion of Christ.
Your hands, dear brothers, will bless the people of God. Your lips will proclaim forgiveness. Your voice will announce the Gospel. Your hands will hold the Eucharist, the Church’s greatest treasure. Never lose your sense of wonder before this mystery. Every time you celebrate Mass, Christ himself sanctifies his people through you. Every time you forgive sins, Christ himself renews and heals. Every time you anoint the sick, Christ himself consoles. You are called to be men whose entire lives speak of the mercy and tenderness of God, not only through great gestures, but through patience, gentleness, fidelity, and closeness to the people entrusted to your care.
The humility to keep learning
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles presents Apollos to us: a preacher full of zeal and gifts, yet still open to learning more and being better formed. This is a beautiful reminder for every priest.
A priest must never become self-sufficient or closed in on himself. Humility is essential for fruitful ministry. Dear brothers, remain open to learning, to lifelong formation; remain ready to accept correction, remain always willing to grow. Walk together with your brother priests. Help one another. Encourage one another. Never allow isolation to harden your hearts. Live the priesthood in the communion of your congregation and of the Church.
The Eucharistic form of the Priesthood
At the heart of priestly life is the Eucharist. Every day you will repeat the words of Jesus: “This is my body given up for you.” These words are not only sacramental words. Gradually, they must become the pattern of your whole life. As you will hear shortly: “Imitate what you celebrate”. You are called to become Eucharistic men – men given for others.
Do not be afraid to give yourselves completely to Christ and to his people. There will be moments of joy in your ministry, moments when you will see faith reborn in hearts, families healed, and lives transformed by grace. But there will also be moments of weariness, misunderstanding, and sacrifice. In those moments, remember that the priesthood passes through the Cross before reaching the Resurrection. A generous priestly life always bears fruit, even when that fruit is not immediately visible.
God still calls
Dear brothers, today’s Ordination is also a message of hope for the whole Church. God still calls. Christ still entrusts his mission into the hands of weak human beings made strong by his grace. The Holy Spirit still raises up shepherds for the People of God. This should fill us with gratitude and renewed trust, and with prayer that many may welcome this call of God to follow him in the priestly life.
May Mary, Mother of Priests, accompany you and protect you throughout your ministry. May she teach you to serve with humility, joy, fidelity, and courage, and always be instruments of unity. And may your priesthood always reveal to the world the face of Christ, the Good Shepherd who came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life for his people.
✠ Joseph Galea-Curmi
Auxiliary Bishop of Malta
