It's an awesome responsibility to preach. One of my heroes, Bishop Gerald Kennedy, was fond of telling of the Church of England Bishop who remarked that a sermon is something a clergy person will cross a continent to deliver, but will not walk across the street to hear. There may be more truth in that than most of us will admit. Yet, when we get beyond our egoes and our yet unredeemed arrogance, we know that preaching is an awesome responsibility. And especially is it so at a high hour such as this when we focus on the call of God to persons to give their whole lives to ministry -- when we share in the recognition of those the church has affirmed as their representative ministers, ordaining them to a ministry of word, sacrament, and order.

I'm aware of the deep significance of this hour. …