the pilgrims mass

Hi everyone, this is a variation on the previous homily, especially for the Pilgrims mass on Sunday, main celebrant Bishop Paul from Japan.  

I gave the homily and here is the shortened version from what I gave on Saturday:

13th July, 2008      15th Sunday Ordinary Time, Year A

 

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It is a great honour to have our international pilgrims with us for these Days prior to the World Youth day in Sydney.    Thanks to bishop Paul and fellow priests, religious and all the pilgrims with us from Japan. The experience of the last few days has been a real gift for our community, and we pray that you will always remember your time in Maryborough with fondness. ( We will always remember this time with joy).   Thank you for coming.  It has been wonderful.

 

The gospel this weekend….  is perfect for our celebration of the beginning of the World Youth Day pilgrimage week in Sydney….   the sower went out….   the sower went out to sow……  and it fell on all manner of conditions …..   and if the conditions are nurtured and encouraged….  that word will bear enormous fruit…….    each one of us received the word of God in Baptism….    the Holy spirit was given to us… to be nurtured, to grow and to foster in us the love that Jesus wants for the world….

 

"The way of Jesus is an invitation that allows for all manner of responses….. and the response depends on US.  

 

This is an important reminder as near to thousands upon thousands of young adults will gather in Sydney this week to hear the word of God and be inspired to respond to it.  What will be the harvest resulting from this sowing?  We hope and trust that it will be a profound result…. leading to rich fruits…..   and may the pilgrims be transformed .. and may all those they meet be transformed….  like ripples going outwards in a pond…"  (st Vincent de paul reflection sheet).

 

The pope has already given some very important thoughts in anticipation for the world youth day celebration in Sydney, and it fits perfectly into the Gospel message of nurturing the seed of faith we have received in the best of soil – the best of environments….

 

 

For the  XXIII World Youth Day ; the theme will be: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8). The underlying theme of "the Holy Spirit and mission."

 

"The Spirit of courage and Witness that gives us the strength to live according to the Gospel and to proclaim it boldly."

 

Pope Benedict, speaking especially to the young people, has stressed… the absolutely vital need for PRAYER… he says….

missionary fruitfulness is not principally due to programmes and pastoral methods (that are cleverly drawn up and "efficient"), but success in mission is the result of the community's CONSTANT PRAYER.  He quotes the late Pope John Paul II who writes: "even prior to action, the Church's mission is to witness and to live in a way that shines out to others.  Similarly, the ancient church writer, Tertullian, tells us that this is what happened in the early days of Christianity when pagans were converted on seeing the love that reigned among Christians: "See how they love one another"

 

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Pope Benedict goes on to say that the Gospel of Jesus, (because of the presence and energy of the Spirit), cannot be reduced to a mere statement of fact, for it is intended to be lived in practical witness……   for it is "good news for the poor, release for captives, sight for the blind ...".

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Pope Benedict, speaking to the youth of our church, and to us all, stresses the vital importance of eucharist……..

"in order to grow in our Christian life, we need to be nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ. In fact, we are baptized and confirmed with a view to the Eucharist which is the "Source and summit" of the Church's life. The Eucharist is a "perpetual Pentecost" since every time we celebrate Mass we receive the Holy Spirit who unites us more deeply with Christ and transforms us into Him.

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Many young people raise deep questions about the future. They ask with concern: How can we fit into a world marked by so many grave injustices and so much suffering? How should we react to the selfishness and violence that sometimes seem to prevail? How can we give full meaning to life? How can we help to bring about the fruits of the Spirit -- "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" – to fill this scarred and fragile world.

 

The pope replied….…"You young people, through World Youth Day, are in a way manifesting your desire to participate in this mission.//… Once again I repeat that only Christ can fulfil the most intimate aspirations that are in the heart of each person. //Only Christ can "humanize humanity" and lead it to become 'divine' . Through the power of his Spirit Christ fills us from within, with / and this makes us capable of loving our neighbour and ready to be of service.

*****……In particular, I assure you that the Spirit of Jesus today is inviting you young people to be bearers of the good news of Jesus to your contemporaries – to fellow young people. The difficulty that adults undoubtedly find in approaching the sphere of youth in a comprehensible and convincing way could be a sign with which the Spirit is urging you young people to take this task upon yourselves. You know the ideals, the language, and also the wounds, the expectations, and at the same time the desire for goodness felt by your contemporaries. This opens up the vast world of young people's emotions, work, education, expectations, and suffering ... Each one of you must have the courage to promise the Holy Spirit that you will bring one young person to Jesus Christ in the way you consider best, knowing how to "give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but [to] do it with gentleness and reverence"

….Do not be afraid to become holy missionaries like Saint Francis Xavier who travelled through the Far East proclaiming the Good News until every ounce of his strength was used up,// or like Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus who was a missionary even though she never left the Carmelite convent. Both of these are "Patrons of the Missions". Be prepared to give everything….. in order to enlighten the world with the truth of Christ (in the places you live and work);//  (for we know that mission starts at home… in the places we live, work and socialize……)…….// We nurture that seed of Good news when we respond with love to hatred; when we proclaim the hope of the risen Christ in every corner of the earth.

 

May the world youth day pilgrimage bless us all…. // may it renew and enliven us to go forth in service and love… and we too who remain here are on this journey with you… in spirit and prayer…..    let us trust that the word of God does not return without having achieved what it set out to do……   bear fruit that will last….