Text
of Homily by
The Most Reverend John J. Myers, D.D., JCD, Cardinal Bevilacqua, Cardinal McCarrick, Cardinal Egan, Archbishop Gerety, my brother bishops, family, friends, parishioners of Bishop daCunha and distinguished public servants, Me complace saludar ahora a los hermanos de lengua española. De modo particular, a los fieles de San Miguel, donde el obispo daCunha ha sido parroco. A todos os invito a poner los ojos del corazón en María, modelo de caridad y de esperanza para la Iglesia local de Newark. We celebrate today the salvation God is offering us, especially through the life of His Church. In doing so we are admitting that we need salvation, we need forgiveness, we need healing. The Lord long ago promised us that He would heal the brokenhearted, set captives free and send us glad tidings. Each of us knows that we need to be set free from the shackles of sin that bind us to a wayward world. A world that sees money and power as god; a world that sees sexual license and even perversion as authentic expressions of freedom; a world that all too often resorts to violence and drugs; a world that ignores justice while it yearns for peace. The Word of God in power is entrusted to the Church. God forms His people – we do not come together and decide to be Church. The Lord, rather, calls us together through ministers whom He calls and sends to serve His people by speaking His Word, celebrating the Sacraments in which He acts and keeping proper order in His Church by overseeing with authority. These ministers are Servants of God and Servants of God’s people. They are instruments of His peace and of His love which He offers through Jesus Christ, the sole mediator between God and man. They are not perfect, but know human weakness and failings. This has been made clear to all of us in recent months. How sorry we are that such terrible sin has troubled the life of the Church and resulted in profound suffering. But, as Bishop daCunha has so wisely gleaned from Holy Scripture, “Sufficit Tibi Gratia Mea.” My grace is sufficient for you. No matter how dark the sky, no matter how bleak the outlook, no matter how weak we feel in the face of terrible problems – My grace – the grace of Jesus Christ – is sufficient for us to carry on. And we shall. Pope St. Gregory the Great, whose feast we celebrate today, captured something of this thought in one of his memorable homilies: “So who am I to be a watchman, for I do not stand on the mountain of action but lie down in the valley of weakness? Truly the all-powerful Creator and Redeemer of mankind can give me in spite of my weaknesses a higher life and effective speech; because I love him, I do not spare myself in speaking of him.” Bishop daCunha, you have experienced that moment which all the other bishops here have – a communication by phone or letter or for some even telegram informing you of the Holy Father’s decision to call you to the Office of Bishop. You know the feeling of unworthiness. But you also have faith in the power of God. We in the Archdiocese of Newark are ever so happy and grateful that you said “Yes” – as you have generously and beautifully in your years of priestly service among us. We are a particular Church of great ethnic diversity. While this brings its own challenges, it brings many more gifts. We are proud and grateful for the active participation in the lives of our parishes of people literally from every part of the globe. The human family is well – represented here in the Archdiocese of Newark. For us to be true disciples of Jesus Christ, we must follow His commandment of love. We must love one another, help and support one another. But this does not mean some weak or amorphous way of life. Jesus told us, “You will remain in my love if you keep my commandments.” The Way is not of our making or our design. It is a Way designated by the Lord Jesus and proclaimed by His Church across the centuries. It is a way of goodness and honesty, founded in the truth of God’s creation. But also, it is a way of the cross. Archbishop Sean O’Malley at his recent installation in Boston, reminded us of this: “ If we do not flee from the cross of pain and humiliation, if we stand firm in who we are and what we stand for, if we work together, hierarchy, priests, religious and laity, to live our faith and fulfill our mission, then we will be a stronger and holier church.” It is a way of joy when the truth is embraced and lived. It is a way the Lord has chosen for us that we may abide in His love. It is a way which will find us walking with the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints because we seek the gift of loving one another in His name.
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