People filled St. James Cathedral for the Mass of Ordination today for Rev. Joseph Tapia-Beeman. The prayers and music made for a faith-filled and joyous celebration. The Livestream video and homily are below. More pictures to follow. You can learn more about Fr. Joseph in this article in the Northwest Catholic Magazine. The next picture was taken at his first Mass at St. Stephen the Martyr which is his home parish as well as his first assignment.
To begin, I wish to welcome a number of people. First, a word of gratitude and greeting to the parents of Deacon Joseph – Steve and Joan. To you and all the family and friends gathered for this joyous occasion, welcome. We also welcome priests who have served in the formation of Deacon Joseph: Fr. Arturo Felix OFM Conv representing Mundelein Seminary along with Fr. Daniel Barnett who has joined us from Bishop White Seminary. We extend a warm welcome also to Fr. Ken Anderson who is here from Chicago. To one and all, Welcome!
In today’s first reading we hear from the Prophet Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” These are words for all believers to recall often, that each of us is known before God from eternity. St. Catherine of Siena references this truth when she claims that God draws each of us forth from his love.
A child newly born is totally dependent on love; the love of God as manifested in the love of a mother and father, the love of a family. This ‘first reality of life’ holds true for the entirety of life.
A similar truth is true as members of the Church. The Baptismal waters are the womb of the Church from which each of us draws life from the Risen Christ. St. Paul in the second reading today reminds us that it is the love of Christ that impels us. In other words the entire life of the Christian is lived in response to this unmerited love of Christ. This is why the commandments are summed up in the one commandment of love; love God with all your heart and soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself.
Joseph, this is precisely the life you take up today as a priest – an unmerited gift from Christ – a gift not only to you, but to His Church – that others may come to know this unmerited love of God. Joseph, your life and the life of every priest is to be lived in response to Christ’s love.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus refers to himself as the Good Shepherd. Thus, every priest who is an alter Christus strives to be a good shepherd in the midst of God’s people. Each priest is called forth from the People of God, remains a member of the People of God and lives in service to the People of God.
In the homily at his first priesthood ordination, Pope Leo spoke to the new priests of the importance of living in the midst of God’s people and to do so with transparency and credibility:
Saint Paul, says: “You know I lived among you.” Let us engrave this expression in our hearts and minds! “You know how I lived among you”: the transparency of life. Known lives, readable lives, credible lives! Let us live in the heart of the People of God so that one day we can stand before them with a credible testimony.
Joseph, as a priest, you now become a public person and much more. As priests, we live a celibate life. We freely choose to forgoe an exclusive love to be available to all people that they may know better the love of Christ. While we must set healthy boundaries, what we do in the privacy of our personal life must always be conducive and coherent with who we say we are in our public life.
The Psalmist in today’s readings asks a foundational question: “How can I repay the LORD for all the good he has done for me? This is the life of a priest – to live his life as a response to all the good the Lord has done for him and to do so without counting the cost. The life of the Christian, the life of the priest will entail the cross, and every disciple of the Lord must be sober and realistic about this reality. But when we recall the Lord’s Goodness, we ground ourself in the most fundamental truth of God’s love and that all things are possible with God. All of life is a response to this Goodness of God.
Jesus referred to this often as he spoke to his disciples. He said, “I do what I see the Father do.” (John 5:19) Again: “I glorified you [Father] on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.” (John 17: 4) This is how each of us glorifies God, by accomplishing the work he gives us to do. This is why one of final greetings at Mass says: “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.”
Thus far we have spoken of community and integrity. On this even of Pentecost the final point is about mission.
We live in a world where the human desire for God seems dimmed and even religion is facing its own challenges, whether tainted with politics or its own human failures. As I prayed evening prayer one evening this week, the opening antiphon brought me great comfort as well as a strong reminder that the Risen Lord is always with us: “Peace be with you, it is I, do not be afraid.” (Tuesday Week III, Evening Prayer)
These are the words of the Risen Lord to his disciples. Soon after this He gave them the promised Holy Spirit and sent them into the world to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. This is the task now of all the baptized, to be witnesses to the Risen One by the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.
In these recent days I pray often to St. Paul who was perhaps, second to the Blessed Mother, the greatest evangelist of all times. I also seek the intercession of St. Benedict who taught his monks to prefer nothing to Christ.
Joseph, ‘keep your eyes fixed on Christ’ (Hebrews 12:2) as you live your priestly life in service to the People of God. Be single-hearted in your love of Christ and allow this love to impel your ministry that you may be an evangelist with the heart of Christ.
In this month of the Sacred Heart of Christ, I draw attention to the final Encyclical of Pope Francis: Dilexit Nos, On the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ. Francis wrote:
As we contemplate the Sacred Heart, mission becomes a matter of love. For the greatest danger in mission is that, amid all the things we say and do, we fail to bring about a joyful encounter with the love of Christ who embraces us and saves us. (Number 208)
Joseph, may you grow ever deeper in love with Christ each day so that as St. Paul says, this love of Christ may impel all you do for him. Each day the Lord will share his priestly life with you. In this sharing is included the invitation to spend your life completely, without reservation in the midst of and on behalf of God’s people. Thus, in each moment, there will also be the shadow of the cross, but do not be afraid. The life of a priest is demanding and will test your metal. May the words of the Prophet Isaiah always be one of your anchors:
Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, they that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint. (Isaiah 40:30-31)
Finally, keep as your constant companion the Blessed Mother, who was with Christ every step of his life, ministry, passion, death and resurrection. She is our North Star, the Spouse of the Holy Spirit, the Seat of Wisdom. Implore her intercession that she always hold you close to her Son.
Our Lady of Seattle, Pray for us.
Mary, Mother of the Church, Pray for us.