Reverend Larry Silva, Bishop | Diocese of Honolulu

On January 12, 2025, a homily was delivered reflecting on the engagement between God and humanity. The speaker likened this divine engagement to a marriage proposal, where faults and failings become irrelevant in the face of love meant to last a lifetime. The homily described God's persistent efforts to communicate his love through messengers and messages, some romantic and others stern.

The focus was on Jesus' baptism as a symbolic gesture of repentance for humanity's sins. It was portrayed as an engagement with his beloved Bride, humanity. This event was marked by divine approval from God the Father and the Holy Spirit's presence. "This is the occasion when Jesus, the Bridegroom, changed mere water into the finest wine by changing sinful humanity into his spotless Bride."

Jesus' public ministry lasted three years and faced rejection that led to his crucifixion. However, it emphasized that God's love persisted beyond death with Jesus' resurrection. The homily noted that this act of love allows believers to partake in divinity through communion.

The message conveyed that Jesus continues to show gestures of divine love through eternal words and ministers who proclaim them. These acts are described as profound engagements between Bride and Bridegroom.

Addressing those being instituted as acolytes, it highlighted their role in supporting this divine love story: "[You men who are to be instituted today as acolytes are part of the music of this love story...]"

Finally, it called on individuals to immerse themselves in these stories of God's unfathomable love: "We cannot count the ways that God shows us his love... inviting them to come to the Wedding Banquet..."