Here is the text of Bishop Larry Silva’s homily for the diaconate ordination Mass for Jon Cabico, May 30, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Pearl City.

By Bishop Larry Silva | Hawaii Catholic Herald

Whenever we think of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a particular artistic image comes to mind, the image of Jesus with his heart exposed, outside the normal protection of his chest and ribs. If such a thing were anatomically true, death would occur within a short time, because the heart is so vulnerable. But artists portray the heart exposed to all the world, open for all to see. And we know, of course, that this signifies Jesus’ love unto death — indeed beyond death! His love is tangible, visible, vulnerable. But no human artist can come close to rendering accurately the meaning of Jesus’ love in comparison with his own handiworks, the sacraments. They are visible, tangible signs that the heart of Jesus, burning with love, touches every aspect of life, from birth to maturity in mission; from sickness to that union of love between a man and a woman that reflects God’s own faithful, fruitful and committed love for us; from forgiveness to the ordering of the Church for service. And the most tangible expression of this love is the Eucharist, in which the Risen One becomes most intimate with us, feeding us with his own Body and Blood. These things may be hidden from the learned and the clever, but they are revealed to the merest children, so that Christ’s Sacred Heart can be accessible, visible, and tangible.

So tonight we gather in the midst of the sacrament of the memorial of Jesus’ loving death and resurrection, because there is no better setting for what the Holy Spirit is about to do to this brother of ours, Jon Cabico. Tonight, Jon, you will receive the sacrament of Holy Orders in the order of deacon. But more than simply receiving the grace of a sacrament, you will become, forever and always, a sacrament of Jesus Christ, the loving servant who washes the feet of his disciples. In a real way, the great Divine Artist, who creates and inspires all artists, will paint you as the exposed heart of Jesus, accessible, tangible, out there for all. You freely offer yourself to be such an image, and from this night forward you are called to serve Christ’s beloved people so that our sometimes-stony hearts can be transformed into sacred hearts, beating as one with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, proclaiming to all the world in word and deed the good news that God is love.

But lest we be too romantic about this, let us remember what happened to the heart of Jesus. His heart was moved to pity when he saw broken, hopeless people before him, and when he brought them healing and hope, his heart was hurt by criticism or broken by lack of gratitude. So, Jon, will your heart be broken from time to time by criticism or lack of gratitude. Jesus’ heart was moved to tears over the lack of love in an ancient city, and when he tried to call the city to repent and to be gathered into the loving arms of God, he was marched out of the city as a criminal and hanged upon a tree. We hope your fate will not be such, but you must know that your fidelity to Christ could one day lead at best to a martyrdom of misunderstanding and at worst to the shedding of your blood in witness to Jesus. Calling a world that is filled with violence and war to be a world of peace is not always well accepted. Challenging a world that confuses self-indulgence with freedom to find its true freedom in obedience to God’s commandments is not always met with accolades. Even after Jesus had died, his heart was pierced with a lance, exposing it to the elements. Yet Jesus’ love even then poured out water and blood, showing in a tangible way that true love can never die but will always be fruitful. As a deacon you will now have the privilege and joy of washing God’s children in that living water, so that they can be immersed in the heart of the God who is love. You will offer God’s holy people the Blood of Christ, so that his Blood can flow through their veins and strengthen them for their daily witness to Jesus.

Tonight’s ritual indicates two very important realities that will keep you united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a special way: prayer and celibacy.

You will promise to pray constantly for the Church and the world, especially by faithfully celebrating the Liturgy of the Hours. The Church, in her two thousand year experience, knows very well how easy it is for us to think that we are learned and clever, that the wonderful works we do in ministry are because of our own gifts and talents and the hard work we have done to build up our skills. So it makes its ordained ministers promise that they will make themselves like little children every day, going back to the source of our power and authority, checking in with the One who is love itself by praising Him in his own Word, not once but seven times a day, so that we do not lose contact with the burning heart of Love itself. And this is not just for your own spiritual nourishment. It is not taking precious time away from ministry, but is itself your highest ministry. You could never serve the people of God well without first praying for them, lifting up the whole world to touch the Sacred Heart of Jesus. And never forget that the unseen prayers of others have brought you to this day and will sustain you every day of your life.

You will promise to live the gift of celibacy for the sake of the kingdom. I can tell you it will be a an impossible burden if you see it only as a grudging concession to the laws of the Church, as an institution hopelessly out of step with the times. Perhaps the learned and the clever view it in such a way. But Jesus lifts his own voice in a prayer of thanksgiving that you are nave and childlike enough to see it for what it truly is. It is a way of loving, first, last, and always, the holy people God has called you to serve. It is a way of saying with your body and your whole being that you offer yourself to them as the heart of Jesus, accessible, open, vulnerable. If you see it so, I cannot tell you the tremendous love that will be returned to you in overflowing abundance!

When we set the date of this ordination several months ago, I had no idea it was the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, since this is celebrated not on a fixed day of the calendar but on the Friday after the second Sunday after Pentecost. But I could not think of a better day to become a deacon, the icon of the heart of Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve. May you always know the love of Christ Jesus in your life. May you now be a living image of the God who is love and a faithful witness to the Sacred Heart of Jesus!