Image: Bishop Stuart Hall saying his homily at his Episcopal Ordination in St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne, Victoria.
I put this duty to you…: proclaim the message [of the Gospel] and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it. So said Paul to Timothy, his young apprentice in the apostolic ministry. And we might hear again Paul’s further direction to Timothy, make the preaching of the Good News your life’s work, in thoroughgoing service.
While Mgr Stuart has now far surpassed that tender age at which Timothy first read Paul’s letter to him, and receiving from it his episcopal commission, we can fairly say that these words pertain to him just as much as when they were first uttered. Here is the episcopal commission: proclaim the Gospel, in season and out. As we heard directly from the risen Lord himself, Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so am I sending you… Receive the Holy Spirit.
The word ‘apostle’ means ‘to be sent’. Christ was sent from his Father; the Holy Spirit was sent as the reconciling peace of the Paschal mystery. Now, a new disciple is to be sent, to oversee God’s people of the Australian Military Ordinariate. He is being sent to proclaim the Good News with patience and with the intention of teaching.
This ‘sending’ commissioning, given through ordination, is summed up in the words of consecration to be soon prayed over Mgr Stuart,
[Father], pour out now upon this chosen one that power which is from you,
the governing Spirit, whom you gave to your beloved Son,
Jesus Christ, the Spirit whom he bestowed upon the holy
Apostles, who established the Church in each place as your
sanctuary for the glory and unceasing praise of your name.
We might note how these words reflect the commissioning words of the Prophet Isaiah, The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me. By prayer and anointing, and by the laying on of hands, this chosen one, God’s disciple, will receive what we need for our Church: a bishop, who reflects the fullness of Christ, who was sent to announce God’s kingdom, and to bring a peace that only He could bring.
Pax Christi mihi est Dux. The peace of Christ is my leader. Here is the motto by which Mgr Stuart is to be sent, the maxim to guide and direct his life’s work of proclamation of the Gospel. Peace was the first word of the risen Christ, given to his disciples for them to receive. But it was given with an immediate call for them to be sent out with it.
Stuart, today you will resolve to preach this Gospel of Christ’s peace with constancy and fidelity. The Lord is entrusting to you a new way of serving his people. You are not asked to undertake this ministry from your own strength. You are, rather, being asked to remain close to Christ, to listen for his voice, and to allow his peace to shape the way you teach, shepherd and serve. For the serving personnel and their families of the Australian Defence Force, to whom you are sent, who experience separation, sacrifice, and sometimes grief in their mission, may you embrace the prophetic calling to work for the work of peace.
And may our prayer for him today be that he may fulfill by divine assistance what he will receive by divine commission.