Ordination Homily
The following is the homily which Bishop Pates delivered on the occasion of the priesthood ordination of Ken Halbur and George Komo on June 5, 2009 at the Des Moines Cathedral.
Today is a day of joy for the Church of Southwest Iowa. Two men have allowed God’s call to priestly ministry to penetrate. For our friends, Ken Halbur and George Komo, it means that in one case the approach of God was deflected temporarily by the distraction of alluring pursuits. In another, it was delayed by the fear and trepidation of going to a different culture and embracing a new homeland.
God’s call persisted. Today, their responses are positive but not without expectations. And so they will express resolution to exercise the ministry of the Word worthily and wisely – preaching the Gospel and teaching the Catholic faith.
In doing so they will face inevitable resistance from some quarters as they address contemporary issues related to the sacredness of life, to social justice, to world peace, to advocacy for the poor, alienated, and immigrants to questions of sexual morality and to protection of the environment. Assuring and soothing, therefore, in accepting the role of prophet which can encounter indifference and even hostility is the experience communicated by Jeremiah “Then the Lord extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying, ‘See I place my words in your mouth.’”
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George and Ken have been taken from among us and will be empowered to call down the Holy Spirit to activate God’s saving presence. They will pour the waters on Baptismal candidates and God’s everlasting life of love is initiated in our brothers and sisters. This love is further ingrained when as priests they will gather us around the Eucharistic table to make present the sacrificial death and life-giving resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
God’s infinite mercy stirs anew as forgiveness for sins occurs, remarkably so, as the priest, the minister of God’s healing, moves his hand in absolution reconciling the penitent with God. For newly ordained priests this realization is astounding, yet humbling, in light of the attendant awareness of his personal ongoing weakness.
Compassion and companionship, hallmarks of the ministry of Jesus, are extended in time as the priest anoints the sick and suffering, pointing to the ultimate, irreversible healing that is our destiny.
Christ’s spousal love for the Church, his bride, is highlighted as the priest has the privilege of witnessing the commitment of man and woman in Christian marriage enabling the foundation of our culture to be renewed and strengthened.
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The ministry of the priest as entrusted to George and Ken is not mechanistic in nature. It is to be exercised with a Pastor’s heart, heeding the example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
In a pastoral visit to one of the Diocese’s 82 parishes, a woman detailed for me the feeling of community and love that existed among the parishioners. She asked if I could identify the root cause. Before I could venture a response – she said “it is the Pastor.”
This priest is obviously there for the people. He is kind, gentle, and generous in service, knows everyone’s name and pays particular attention to the sick, elderly and lonely. He sacrifices himself for the sake of others but always in good humor and with an upbeat spirit. She exclaimed, – “He brings out the very best in us and his example is contagious.”
She further noted, our community is inspired by his example and we overcome petty jealousies and calcified grudges with a spirit of generosity and authentic Christian love. A wonderful transformation continues to occur among us as we welcome the Gospel in our midst.
Ken and George demonstrated a conscious awareness of humanizing their ministry in such a fashion in conversations with fellow seminarians this past Holy Week. Ken detailed how important it is to be in close union with brother priests in the presbyterate as they, in union with the Bishop, seek to animate God’s people in our time. Our ministry of love and service is rooted there, he noted. George, reflecting on his pastoral training in Harlan and Shelby County, was convinced of how essential it is to get out of the sacristy and onto the farms and be with families to connect Word, Sacrament and real life.
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An individual does not take on the vocation of priest on his own, but is called to that service. Careful listening enables one to be in touch with that invitation and then to respond. The response is ongoing and is verified and strengthened by communication – by prayer.
Prayer allows the priest to enter into relationship with God. The Canadian theologian Bernard Lonergan described this process as self-transcendence – going beyond oneself and entering into God’s life. Such movement, the theologian noted, has lasting impact when it further evolves into self-sacrifice and joins in the love that Jesus continues to exercise in the world.
Thus, the priesthood for George and Ken, as it is for all of us who have been called to Sacred Orders, is that of the Christ.
In his homily for the Chrism Mass of this year, Pope Benedict stated: “Indeed when all is said and done there is only one priest of the New Covenant, Jesus Christ himself. Consequently, the priesthood of the disciples can only be a participation in the priesthood of Jesus. . . .
“It means not wanting to impose our own way and our own will, not desiring to become someone else, but abandoning ourselves to him however and whenever he wants to use us” for the sake of the Kingdom.
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