In the Archdiocese of Birmingham we're celebrating 25 years of having ordained permanent deacons. There are now 92 deacons in the Archdiocese; last year there were 10 ordinations. As Archbishop Bernard said at the ordinations, "Perhaps the Holy Spirit is saying something to us."
This homily is longer than usual - that's because I made three slightly different homilies to each of the three weekend masses, and then I've stitched them altogether into one again. See if you can spot the joins.
Delivered on the 6th Sunday of Easter, the readings are Acts 8: 5-8, 14-17; 1 Peter 3: 15-18; John 14: 15-21.