Eugene Hamilton sought to be a priest from a young age.
The young man, about 10, served Mass for the late Cardinal John O’Connor of NY, after Mass the Cardinal spoke to the young men serving Mass and suggested the idea of priesthood to them.
Eugene Hamilton heard the call of Christ to follow him; to live one of the most sublime, demanding, rewarding vocations. To be another Christ; to act in the person of Christ; to stand at the altar and make his body and blood present.
He dreamt of becoming a priest; a young man stricken with terminal cancer as his life was just beginning. A young man who had an exceptional relationship with the Lord, and desired to follow him, to his death.
He went to Dunwoodie Seminary in NY and began his studies. Shortly after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
He fell behind in his studies, he had to leave the seminary, but kept hopes alive of being able to resume. When it became clear that he would not be able to go back to Dunwoodie, he did not give up. He lived a life of holiness, a life of piety. He was due to be ordained in 2000, the same year that I was ordained.
He took as his own the motto of the late Cardinal Cooke whom he admired so much ‘Thy will be done’.
In the final hours of his life he was ordained after receiving the necessary dispensation from the Holy Father. The Pope said “Give Eugene all of my love. Tell him I love him with all my heart ‘in toto corde’".
As he laid on the couch of his family home dying, Bishop O’Brien ordained him a deacon, and then a priest. He died just 3 hrs later, surrounded by his family.
Ordained as another Christ on the couch of his parent’s home before Christ called him again. Called him to be with him, a priest forever.
As priests we follow the call of Christ
Celebrate the Mass, the sacrifice of Christ made present here.
The greatest gift that Christ left us, his very body and blood to sustain us.
No priest, no Mass, no Christ.
As priests we seek holiness of life.
We give ourselves to others in love and service.
We do not marry as a sign of our total dedication to Christ and his Church.
Celibacy as a sign that Christ is enough for us; all that we can ever need. A sign of what is to come.
As priests we are a sign of contradiction in a world which is obsessed with material things.
We propose the spiritual. We propose Jesus Christ as the answer. The name that saves; the name that has power.
Tonight we wash feet, do things that others would not do. We seek to follow Christ in service of others.
Jesus Christ instituted the Priesthood and the Eucharist today, Holy Thursday 2000 years ago.
Not just for us priests, for all people.
Christ acts through us, as other Christs.
We all follow Christ, we all answer his call; some through priesthood, some in religious life, some in the married life, some single life. He calls us all.
At the end of the Mass we will go in solemn procession, to follow Christ, to keep watch with him, to pray to him and with him.
We will walk behind him tonight, but will we keep walking?
Eugene Hamilton kept walking behind Christ in the final hours of his life. He responded to his call, despite his human weakness, sickness. He knew that Christ is enough for him.
Will we do the same? Will we wash each other’s feet? will we give ourselves for others in the model of divine charity which Christ showed and told us to imitate?
Christ give example to us. He imposes nothing, he proposes to us, a better way, a more excellent way of living. He calls us.
Will you say yes to his call?