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Neophytes MassFifth Sunday of Easter - Sunday 13 May, 2001 By + George Pell A warm welcome also to mothers, on this Mother's Day. We all owe our life to our mothers and fathers. It is appropriate we remember and thank them and today we pray for them. I would also like to welcome a group of Melbourne young people who came here for my Installation this week, special friends who are returning this afternoon. It is wonderful that you made such a long expensive trip, and I am very grateful. The readings today (obviously) are Easter readings. The first Christians, one month after the Resurrection would still have been brimming with enthusiasm, faith and hope, as please God, are all our neophytes today. We are told that Paul and Barnabas travelled on their missionary journeys "putting fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere," and perseverance is a challenge for each of us. The first religious enthusiasm is an example of falling in love. The euphoria does not last forever and has to develop into a different and deeper love. But encouragement cuts both ways, and I am sure I speak for many of your parish priests and parish team members in the RCIA, in saying that your coming into the Church has given all of us great encouragement. God is at the centre of the Catholic community especially through his Son Jesus Christ. God is good. The psalm today tells us "the Lord is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in love." We Christians would also add that God abounds in forgiveness for those who repent. Our Lord gave us a new commandment "to love one another." How is this to be done? What is new in urging people to love one another? Don't even good pagans - that is, people who don't know or accept the one true God – don't they too love their family and their friends? The novelty is that we must aim to love one another just as Christ; the Son of God loves us. There's the rub! Christ loved his enemies; urged us to return good for evil; to work for good in peaceful ways. The story is told of a priest preaching in the Highlands of New Guinea, which were only evangelised for the first time in the 1930's (I think). The headman was translator and the priest explained that Jesus said, "We should not kill". The chief, that is, the translator, was astounded. He interrupted the translation to check with the priest if his hearing was sound. "Yes", said the priest. "Jesus said you must not kill". The translator returned to his task and told his people "Jesus said you must not kill. That is the way it must be now. Therefore if you kill anyone, I will kill you". Jesus' teachings can be strange as well as difficult, and sometimes the need to show love by forgiving our enemies can be a stiff challenge. But the first priority is to love those close to us – within our family, despite the hassles and difficulties. Therefore Mother's Day is a good thing. In the newspapers today, I read that one or two schools are banning this celebration in the United States. I have not heard of similar campaigns here, but we should work hard to preserve these family feasts. Christianity is not just a this-world religion. We are destined for eternity. The Scriptures use many images to describe this destination: the New Jerusalem, the Bride waiting for the Bridegroom, the wedding feast. There will be no more mourning in the new heaven and new earth, and we will bring to this the person we have construed ourselves while on earth. The person who makes love his goal and ambition in this life makes the love of the Lord in heaven his eternal destination. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
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