Commencement Address

Nashotah House

May 25, 2026

Amin’ ny Anaran’ ny Ray, sy ny Zanaka, ary ny Fanahy Masina. Amen.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:18-20

Most Reverend Bishop, Right Reverend brother Bishops, Reverend Fathers, Honourable Dean, esteemed faculty, students and graduates of this noble house, family and friends, Salama tompoko. Greetings.

I have never made a commencement address before, so, to seek some guidance, I turned to Google to read some recent addresses. I was thoroughly disappointed -even from Christian Colleges and Universities. The recurring refrain was ‘carpe diem’, you can change the world, this is your time to shine, (whatever that means!) one speaker even said ‘you are the hope of the world’. Here’s an example. “Your time to shine has arrived. You are equipped and empowered with everything you need to embark on and live a fulfilling life. Please recognize that the only limitations you face are those you impose on yourself. You have the potential to ascend higher, overcome every obstacle, and achieve greatness. Always remember that it’s your time to shine, no matter how challenging the path ahead may seem.” Yuck!

Well intentioned speakers offered inspirational drivel, and praised the graduating class for their competencies, their very fine education, their ability to forge a whole new world. My dear graduates, I am not trying to diminish your abilities, nor of your excitement of being placed in your first parishes, nor even of your competencies, but I am afraid, it seems there are many other speakers who think much more highly of you than I do. I’m afraid I don’t think ‘you are the hope of the world’.

Therefore, I have prepared my address under the following headings; Look to Jesus, Listen to Jesus, Laud Jesus Alone. Then, I will offer some temptations pitfalls in ministry.

Look to Jesus

Having been formed as an Anglican by the Book of Common Prayer, I’m sorry to inform you that ‘apart from grace - there is no health in you’. Lest you think I’m boastful, I don’t think much of my own abilities either. I remind you of Jesus own words – John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” That, my dear graduates, is very clear – and humbling. However, we also know that Jesus teaches us clearly that we would do greater things than He – if we will allow Him to be our guide by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. My word to you today is, in the words of Archbishop Duncan, “the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” And the main thing in your life and ministry is Jesus. Do not let your ability, nor your competency, nor even your zeal become the main thing. Look to Jesus, and Jesus only, as both the foundation and compelling power in your life. He is the hope of the world – and you have the great privilege and responsibility of representing him.

In the words of Helen Howarth Lemmel’s hymn (who incidentally lived for some time in Wisconsin) Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.

Listen to Jesus

In our Gospel text today, the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus utters what we sometimes call ‘the great commission’. Perhaps, however, it is more aptly named ‘the divine command’. After stating where His own authority is from, Jesus, like a general in an army, gives the command – “Go!” One might say ‘Charge’! As into war.

This is not a suggestion for a few who believe themselves so called. This is not specific to those with unique talents or abilities. This is not for the entrepreneurial, or the adventurous, no more than for the foolish or the proud, it is the command of God on all those who call themselves Christians. The most timid, the most unprepared, the most inept, the most unlikely, those from most unlikely places (Galilee…can anything good come from Galilee??) these are all – you are all – we are all - commanded to “Go!” No matter how much we prefer to stay!

Sometimes this means leaving one’s comforts, or preferences, or personal plans, or perceived successes. Sometimes the command of God is to serve in hard places. Mahajanga is a glorious place, with glorious people, but days without electricity and running water, sleeping beneath bug nets -yet covered with biting ants -especially for one who, in my wife’s words, ‘was born to live upstairs in Downtown Abbey’ is just not easy…but it is still nothing like the cross which Jesus bore!

Sometimes the command to go means we must leave our preferences behind. I would have preferred to be called the Bishop of the Seychelles, still a missionary, still in the Indian Ocean, but an island paradise…but as a friend of mine says ‘duty always trumps preference’. We must go where we are sent. At the end of my synods, I announce where the priests will serve. They have no prior knowledge; they find out when I announce it! This is the Malagasy way.

Sometimes the command of God is to leave something which is going well – but the time has come to go. My parish in Canada was growing and it was a joy to serve there, I had no desire or plans to leave…yet the Lord said ‘Go!’

On the day of my consecration in Mahajanga, it was 39 degrees Celsius, which being interpreted into American is 102 degrees. After an hour-long outside procession in the blazing sun, we made it to the Cathedral. The liturgy took just over five hours. It was in French and English and Malagasy. Archbishop Duncan was the preacher. Amongst the other things he said, was to give me the Godly advice, quoting Mary, the ever blessed mother of God, at the wedding in Cana – “do whatever Jesus tells you”. Today he tells you, and me, to ‘Go’. Go out into the highways and byways to compel them to come in that his house may be full. Go even to the ends of the earth! Ernest Nichols hymn: We’ve a story to tell to the nations that shall turn their hearts to the right, a story of truth and mercy, a story of peace and light. For the darkness shall turn to dawning, and the dawning to noonday bright, and Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth— the kingdom of love and light.

Laud Jesus Alone

I do not deserve the honour given to me today. Please don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for it, but not because in any way I believe I deserve it. I have only done what Jesus has commanded, I have done no more than any of you. My calling to go to Mahajanga is no more laudable than your call to go to large cities and small towns across America. The honour is not about the place, the honour is not in the one called, but in the reality the He – the Lord Jesus – the eternal Son of God has called us into His service. Not because He needs us – but because he wants us to serve him thus. Jesus’ willingness to be obedient to the father is our example…Christus Exemplar …we are honourable only in as much as we are willing to do as Jesus did. And lay down our lives as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. My wife often says, “there is no sacrifice without suffering.”

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” Your ability, your education and formation here at the venerable House, your theological competencies, your zeal and excitement to share the Gospel - these are all gifts from the Lord – and therefore of no credit to you, nor me – they are given to you by grace. The devil will entice you to take the credit for these things. Do not listen. Give Jesus the credit. Laud Jesus alone, for any and all successes, and for every blessing. Give the credit for everything good to Him alone.

It is not easy to be humble in ministry – certainly not in Mahajanga where great deference is shown to ‘big men’. When the schools are closed and there is a police and military lead parade to welcome you, where the Christians bow and kiss your ring, and will not stand until you bless them – it can easily ‘go to your head’. This is true not only for missionary bishops but for all of us in ministry. We must take time to be holy. We must not allow the cult of the personality to take the place of Jesus. We must decrease; Jesus must increase. We must repeatedly evaluate what is happening in our hearts. Stuart Townend’s modern hymn - I will not boast in anything, No gifts, no power, no wisdom; But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection. Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer; But this I know with all my heart – His wounds have paid my ransom.

Let me offer some temptations in ministry, some pitfalls.

1. Instead of looking to Jesus – you will be inclined to look to your own abilities. Your abilities and competencies can be used to build God’s Kingdom – or your own kingdom.

2. Instead of listening to Jesus – you will be inclined to listen to your people – to please them. I remind you, of the biblical admonition to not serve as pleasing men.

3. Instead of lauding Jesus – you will be inclined to take the credit for yourself. Oh how we all love to be congratulated.

4. Instead of going out – you will be inclined to retreat – to stay in… setting office hours (Jesus did not set office hours “Peter please tell the sick and the lame that I am available to heal them from 9-11 am on Tuesday!)

5. Instead of pastoring your people – you will be inclined to busyness…it is amazing how insignificant matters can be used by the devil to detract you from the greater purposes of God. The weekly bulletin – God Lord deliver us!

6. We must defend the faith, but we must do so at the same time that we are working hard at evangelism and pastoral care. Christ did not die for doctrine, he died for souls.

7. You will be inclined to spend more time with your books or your blogs than with Christ’s people. Sadly, we can become much more fond of our books, than of those for whom Jesus died.

At my commencement 26 years ago, Bishop Donald Harvey (the Bishop who baptized me, confirmed me, ordained me deacon and priest, married me to Neny Sarah, baptized our son, and who will very soon confirm Chase -he IS my Rt Rev’d Father in God) He was the commencement speaker. He quoted Studdert Kennedy, the war-time priest poet – “And so through the city streets Christ starves and Venus feasts, she takes the people’s hearts and leaves to them the mumbling priests.” This is exactly what happens when we yield to these temptations.

At my first ordinations last week on Ascension Day, I heard once again the terrifying phrase from the Ordinal you know the ‘horrible punishment that will ensue” should we fail to serve Jesus, and those under our care single heartedly.

My dear graduates, you embark today on the most joyous, but the most serious of journey’s - that of walking ever closer to the Lord Jesus and of leading others to do the same.

To Him alone be the glory. Amen.