ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Bishop McFadden,
Brother Priests,
Deacons,
Professed Religious,
Administrators and Educators,
Distinguished Scholars,
Families and Friends,

In this Eucharist we praise and thank God for the divine favors that have been bestowed upon each of us. I speak for all in the Archdiocese in offering special congratulations to our honorees.

When Pope Benedict established this Year of Saint Paul, he encouraged Christians to consider what it means to be a disciple of Jesus on this 2,000th anniversary of the birth of Saint Paul. Paul is not merely a figure of the past whom we remember with veneration. As an apostle and herald of Jesus Christ, he is also "our" teacher.

Before his conversion, Paul had been an observant Jew. Born in Tarsus, he was well educated and zealous for God. However, his encounter with the Risen Christ on the Road to Damascus marked a decisive moment in his life. He recognized that Christ had made him His own.

In the Letter to the Galatians, Saint Paul opens his heart and reveals the most intimate drive in his life. "I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me" (Gal 2:20). All of Paul’s actions begin from this center. He experienced being loved by Jesus in a very personal way, with a love that overwhelmed him to his depths and transformed him. He was fundamentally changed.

Paul realized that a new approach to life was essential. He came to know a new faith, a new "way," as it was called. Paul no longer lived for himself; he made Christ the center of his life. All that had previously constituted for him a value, paradoxically became a loss. He wrote: "Whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ. More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" (Phil 3:7-8).

Tonight we recognize our student scholars. You have excelled in your study of the arts and sciences, math and languages, social studies and technology. Through hard work and sacrifice, you have cultivated an array of gifts and talents with which God has blessed you. Your achievements are worthy of admiration.

You are fortunate that your education has taken place within a Catholic school. Catholic education offers high quality academic instruction and an opportunity for each generation to unlock the truth about the world in which we live. Further, Catholic schools are places to encounter Jesus Christ, much as Paul did. They are centers of faith, where God’s truth permeates every dimension.

Faith does not diminish the pursuit of truth. It elicits a desire to grow in understanding of the world and the God who created it. God has written in each of our hearts a yearning for fullness and completeness that can only be found in Him. The innate desire of every human being to know truth, and God’s desire to make ultimate truth known, provide the context for human inquiry into the meaning of life. Faith opens minds and hearts to the inexhaustible mystery of God, who is the universal and absolute truth.

Truth is more than knowledge. Truth speaks to the whole person and invites us to respond with our entire being. Only in faith can truth become incarnate and reason become truly human, enabling us to reach out in loving service of others.

The life of Saint Paul teaches us that knowledge alone is insufficient. Though he was quite educated, it was his encounter with Jesus that gave him an entirely new perspective. When Saint Paul allowed Jesus to be the center of his life he was able to see the world, others and even himself in a whole new way. In Jesus, he encountered the power of God and the wisdom of God. He experienced "the weakness of God" as being far superior to human strength and the foolishness of God "as far wiser than human wisdom" (cf. 1 Cor 1:25).

From Paul we learn that what counts is to place Jesus Christ at the center of our lives. When we do so, we are capable of offering witness to all that is beautiful, good and true. In Jesus every value is recovered and purified. We become members of His body, and make a vital contribution to the mission of the Church and the service of society. We become God’s active presence in human affairs and discover the joy of being Christ for others.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul asks, "Where is the wise one? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age?" (1 Cor 1:20). It is my hope, and the hope of all who gather here, that you, our academic scholars, will be the true wise ones, the writers and the debaters of this age. The world needs scholars. Even more, the world needs scholars whose lives are rooted in Jesus. You are called to place your enormous gifts and talents at the service of God, to research and develop new technologies that will make the world a better place. In doing so, you will contribute to improving the lives of others and participate in the building up of the Kingdom of God.

Your journey will not always be easy. In a world in which falsehood is powerful, a servant of the truth will encounter opposition. Saint Paul testifies to the challenge associated with discipleship. The world often considers the wisdom of God to be foolish and a stumbling block.

Despite this, Saint Paul encourages you to face the future with confidence. "Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit" (Rom 5:5). Jesus promised the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who abides with you forever. The Spirit that will teach you everything and lead you in the truth. United with Christ by the Holy Spirit, and as members of His body, the Church, you never face the challenges of life alone.

Tonight we have reason to be thankful. Parents, you are the first and primary educators of your children. It is at home that the seeds of a personal relationship with Jesus are sown. I am grateful that you have entrusted the education and formation of your children to Catholic schools. Encourage your children to follow the example of Saint Paul and make Jesus the center of their lives. This past Saturday, in this very Cathedral, six young men were ordained to the priesthood for service in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide your children in responding to whichever vocation God calls them.

I also express appreciation to all who, by prayer and financial support, sustain the mission of Catholic education. Likewise, all who collaborate in the education apostolate of the Archdiocese deserve special recognition. You give generously of yourselves to advance the formation in faith of another generation.

Again, I congratulate our distinguished honorees. Through the prayers and example of Saint Paul, may you be heralds of Jesus Christ to the world. Amen.