by Bishop Thomas Gumbleton
Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace
You might wonder why I would ask that question at this point. Obviously, you had gone through a period of preparation, and you’re here today, and there is excitement and joy in the church. So why would I ask, “Do you really want to be confirmed?” Well, the reason is that when you accept this sacrament of confirmation, and you receive what now is the fullness of your initiation into the church, you take on a very important responsibility, and that is to be witnesses to your faith.
You people who are ready to stand up for what you believe in, to live it faithfully and with integrity, and so when you stand there and say, “Yes, I want to be confirmed,” you are giving witness to that faith. That’s important for all of us — that we come together as a community of disciples of Jesus, and we witness to one another right here in this church every time we come here for a Sunday liturgy. Each of us is witnessing “I believe,” and that strengthens the faith of the whole community.
So today when you accept this sacrament, you are committing yourself to be a public witness to the faith, to be a disciple of Jesus and to show, not maybe so much by your words, but by how you live that you really believe, you follow Jesus, you are his disciple. You are going to live according to his way and be witnesses to him….