This morning, Archbishop Dermot Farrell celebrated the Chrism Mass for the Diocese of Dublin in Saint Mary’s Pro-Cathedral.
At this Chrism Mass, when we reflect on our priesthood and renew our promises, I think there’s something worth reflecting on in Jesus’ ownership of the initiative of God.
The word of God is God’s overture to us. God reaches out to us, and speaks to his people. God speaks to us in many ways: in the Scriptures, in Jesus, in creation, and God speaks through the way he guides his people through time. It is this final aspect that I wish to focus on this morning. Our ownership of the way God guides his people through time is essential to our fulfilment, our peace, our wellbeing; in a real sense, our salvation. Because what is salvation, if not the life God offers us, life to the full (see John 10:10).
Our first duty is not to be a Church that is perfectly organised, any company can do this, but a Church that, in the name of Christ, stands in the midst of people’s troubled lives … walking in the midst of and alongside our people, learning to listen and to dialogue, cooperating as ministers with one another and with the laity. Let me repeat this important word: together. Let us never forget it: together (address, Saint Theresa’s Cathedral, Juba, South Sudan, 4 February 2023).
Rather than viewing change as a negative, the real challenge is to see change as an opportunity for creative ways to sustain a viable and vibrant future for the faith communities of our Diocese.
To read this homily in full, click here.
ENDS
