By Archbishop Thomas Wenski - The Archdiocese of Miami
Homily by Archbishop Thomas Wenski at Graduation Mass at St. John Vianney College Seminary. May 6, 2025.
“Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.” Such was the assertion of the party of the Pharisees within the early Church. And as we heard in tonight’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, this opinion caused no little dissension and debate; ultimately, it led to Paul and Barnabas going to Jerusalem to the “apostles and presbyters” where, in what was the Church’s first council, it was settled, with Paul and Barnabas’ teaching being vindicated. Circumcision was not necessary for salvation, only faith in Jesus Christ was.
Perhaps that the question was resolved in this way brings a certain sense of relief to some of you. In any case, those events recounted in the Acts of the Apostles show us that there has always been within the Church, founded by Christ, to save imperfect and flawed human beings, namely us sinners, debate, differences of opinion, and even at times dissension. Ultimately the unity of the Church does not depend on us always thinking alike, looking alike or speaking alike. Unity should not be confused with uniformity: We do not have to sing always in unison, but we should always sing in harmony.
Thus, the unity of the Church — the work of the Holy Spirit and not merely of men— does not depend on a forced uniformity but, as the Gospel suggests, on our remaining attached to Christ, like branches to a vine. Jesus tells us: Remain in me as I remain in you. And, if we remain in him, we will bear much fruit — but as Jesus also indicates, not without some pruning (just not the kind of pruning those Pharisees were advocating).
By these words of Jesus, “remain in me,” seem particularly apt for a commencement. When I was a seminarian here — quite a while ago — the rector would bid us farewell as we left for the summer by telling us: “Remember there is no vacation from a vocation.”
Of course, tonight, we recognize the academic achievements of our graduates. However, your time, whether here at St. John Vianney or at Redemptoris Mater, has never been solely about academics. As you have heard many times, your formation is built on four pillars: intellectual, human, spiritual and pastoral. As Pope Francis once told a group of priests he ordained: Seminary formation is not about producing good academics, or good professors, but good priests who have learned to carry the Cross of Christ.
“Remain in me as I remain in you.” The main core of your studies has been in Philosophy. Philosophy has been called many things — not all complimentary to be sure. But hopefully your courses have given you insight into the “lived wisdom” of the ages and have equipped you now to engage that wisdom that spoke through the prophets and through the Word Incarnate in your future studies in theology.
To be a missionary to the people of our times, as Paul and Barnabas were to the people of their times, requires rigorous preparation in any number of disciplines. We need to grow in our understanding of the joys and hopes, the sorrows and anxieties of the people of our times; we need to acquire competencies and skills to engage the world of today in dialogue. (And you cannot dialogue with someone if you cannot speak their language — which is why we give such an emphasis of your learning both English and Spanish.)
But, whether all of you will continue in your discernment for the priesthood at St. Vincent de Paul Seminary, we pray that your days here at St. John Vianney — with the integration of the four pillars of priestly formation into your own lives — has helped you grow in your relationship to Christ. “Remain in me as I remain in you.” Only to the extent that we are committed disciples can we be effective missionaries and witnesses of the Lord.
On the day of your ordinations, God willing, your names will be called and when called you will answer “present”. In this way you express your willingness to put yourself at the disposal of the Lord who “died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him...” (cf. IV Eucharistic Prayer, II Cor. 5: 15)
But until then, your continued formation helps prepare for that day — and for your generous response of saying, “Adsum,” present.
As Paul and Barnabas were able to deal with the dissension and debates they experienced in the early Church, may we approach the controversies of our day with serenity, remembering Jesus’ words: Remain in me.
Jesus describes himself as the true vine. We are the branches. The fruit produced by the branch is only as good as the life (or the sap) flowing into it and through it. And the vinedresser will prune the branches so that they can produce more and better fruit.
Archimedes famously said, “Give me a place to stand and a lever long enough and I can move the world.” An education for excellence is certainly a lever and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the place where one can stand to move the world.
May we abide in Jesus and he in us – so that we bear the fruit he expects of us and move the world closer to the values of His Kingdom. When Christ was sacrificed on Calvary, sin was defeated. On this altar, that same sacrifice is made present to us once again, so that his victory over sin, death and the evil one, will also be ours.
