“That is a lifelong process which calls for ongoing “un-messing” as we keep clearing the ground, as it were, so that we may be fully available for God,” he said, urging the three to draw inspiration from St. Teresa of Avila and St. Francis of Asisi who “understood this call to offer ourselves as agents and channels of God’s life-giving presence in the world.”
He said, “Saint Teresa of Ávila, in words attributed to her, speaks of the God who needs a body in which, and through which, to bring his life-giving presence to bear on the difficult situations of our world. You are being invited to offer your bodies so that God can use you to spread his love, his life-giving presence, in the world.”
“Saint Francis of Assisi, in his famous prayer, also offers himself to be a channel of God’s life-giving presence in the world. He understood the call. That is what you are ordained for: to be channels of God’s life-giving presence,” Archbishop Mpako stated.
He went on to remind the three Deacons-elect that they’ll be expected to serve those entrusted to them as humble agents of unity and justice in the community, ensuring that God’s love flourishes among His people.
“The first Deacons were ordained in order to ensure unity in the community. They were instituted to promote peace through justice. Therefore, you are not ordained merely to distribute food or perform tasks. You are ordained to be agents of unity in the community, agents of justice in the community,” the 66-year-old South African Archbishop said.
The Archbishop of Pretoria since his installation in June 2019, underscored the importance of humility in the diaconate ministry, saying, “The Gospel underscores the importance of humility in being channels of God’s life-giving presence in the world.”
“We cannot be channels of God’s life-giving presence if we are not humble, if we have not emptied ourselves of our ego so that God can be God in us,” he said, and added, “We need to accept being purified time and time again, emptied of self-centeredness and self-importance, just as happened to the Prophet Isaiah.”
Archbishop Mpako expressed gratitude for the gift of the vocation of the four newly ordained permanent Deacons to the local Church and prayed that they would continue to allow themselves to be used as channels of God’s love.
“We pray for you sincerely, dear brothers, that God may touch you in a special way today, that this moment may be a powerful milestone in your lives, and that you may continue to allow yourselves to be used as God’s instruments of love, peace, justice, and integrity,” he said.
Nicholas Waigwa is a Kenyan multimedia journalist and broadcast technician with a professional background in creating engaging news stories and broadcasting content across multiple media platforms. He is passionate about the media apostolate and Catholic Church communication.
