On February 26th, 33 religious from the theology communities of the Center of Higher Studies and the headquarters of the General Directorate received the ministry of acolyte in a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Father Eduardo Robles-Gil, LC.
During the homily, Father Eduardo commented: “Today’s liturgy speaks to us of our belonging to God. We belong to Him because He has made us His own. And this is clearly mentioned in the first reading when it says that even if a mother forgets her child, God does not forget us, because we are His. There is a consecration that God has made of us; He has made us His own, He has chosen us, called us, and today, by instituting you as acolytes, He calls you to say ‘yes’ so that you may serve the liturgy, serve the worship.”
Referring to the Gospel of the day, he added: “When God chooses us, we can face the same temptation mentioned in the Gospel or the one that someone who complains like this might have: ‘My Lord has forgotten me.’ And feeling that helplessness, that loneliness, that vulnerability in the face of daily needs, hardships, and misfortunes. However, we are in the hands of God. A very beautiful and vivid example is nature itself, which renews itself, which is beautiful and blossoms without anyone but the Lord caring for it. And it says that if this happens with plants that perish, how much more are we in the heart and mind of the Heavenly Father.”
Later, commenting on the phrase “No one can serve two masters,” from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, he said: “There is only one Lord. One Lord who has consecrated us and whom we have accepted. We consecrate ourselves to Him and say ‘yes’ to Him, that He is our only Lord and that we are His servants. He is our owner. And because we belong to Him, we are taking steps in becoming more like Him and identifying with Him.” 
He then added: “You have been made servants of His Word by being made readers. We do not have our own wisdom; we proclaim God’s wisdom. He places His word in our hearts. And now He institutes you as acolytes and reminds us that our life is a liturgy and that we are here to give worship to God, who is our Lord and God. We have been chosen to give glory to God by serving at the altar, serving the sacraments. And then He will make you deacons and place you at the service of others. In this way, God is shaping us to be more like Him. He places His word in our minds and hearts, makes us understand that we are for Him, that we are His, made for His glory and for others.”
Father Eduardo concluded the homily with these words: “Let us thank God for this consecration He has made of us. Let us thank Him for transforming us, for giving us His gifts, for placing Himself at the center of our hearts. Saint Paul says that what is expected of those who have been appointed stewards of God’s mysteries is that they be faithful. That we always point toward God our Lord, keeping Him at the center.”
