Archbishop of Sydney

His Eminence,
Cardinal George Pell
Cardinal Priest of the Title of S. Maria Domenica Mazzarello

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Home > Our Archbishop > Homilies 2001 > Article	Printable Version

Youth Mass

St Mary's Cathedral
Readings: Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29; Rev 21:10-14, 22-23; John 14: 23-29

By + George Pell
ARCHBISHOP OF SYDNEY
20 May 2001

These are typical Easter readings as the Church hammers home the Easter message of the consequences of Jesus' resurrection; the need to follow the man who established his divine credentials through his resurrection; the reality of life after death which our Lord gained for us and I suppose too, in the first reading, the inevitable differences that exist among good people in real life, even in the period soon after the resurrection.

Paul and Barnabas are on their missionary journey preaching the good news (the translation of our word gospel, the Greek word evangelion) and bringing encouragement. The disagreement was over the extent of the Jewish requirements for non-Jewish convents; did the men need to be circumcised? It had consequences for the nature of the Church and it's followers, because originally many went to the synagogue on the Saturday before gathering for the Eucharist on the Sunday.

In those years there was then no New Testament writings; the Scriptures were the Old Testament. There was oral teaching, perhaps earlier versions of the gospel stories. And the Church authorities then had to decide this practical question about conditions for the community membership. What was required?

It's interesting to reflect that faith in Jesus presupposes faith in the Church community, because we only know about our Lord from the tradition, from the writings produced in the early communities, which the Church leaders finally accepted as inspired by the Holy Spirit: i.e. the canon, or list of the New Testament books.

There are many other books which claimed to belong to the New Testament . In fact in my study there are two fat volumes of the New Testament apocrypha; i.e. false documents, or at least those not accepted by the Church as making up the Scriptures.

St Augustine, a famous convert from North Africa late in the fourth century, wrote that before he could believe in Christ he had to believe in the Church, because he only knew through the Church.

So those who say they believe in Christ, but not in the Church, often or sometimes have a genuine and deep faith in Jesus Our Lord, but it is not an entirely logical faith. The Church had power to decide then, as it continues to enjoy today, especially through the Pope and Bishops. We need the Church with all its faults.

I want to say also a few words about two other truths outlined in these readings, firstly, the promise of peace, and secondly, the promise of life after death, the reality of heaven and hell.

Peace does not mean success. As Martin Buber, a twentieth century philospher said, "Success is not a name for God." Peace does not necessarily mean prosperity, or healthy genes or a seren disposition. Because peace is not the same as happiness.

The English writer Malcolm Muggeridge liked to claim that if you make personal happiness the number one aim of your life, you will certainly be unhappy. Peace is certainly not material possessions, which cannot return your love.

Peace comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit, from the acknowlegement of the truth, which has a power of its own. Peace comes from the love of God and others, because peace flows from service. It comes from finding meaning and purpose, a sense of direction. It also comes from accepting the reality of God's forgiveness. God will forgive me too, not just other people. This peace can live in our hearts in the midst of all our troubles.

I also want to say something about the reality of life after death, the New Jerusalem, where every tear will be wiped away, where the scales of Justice will balance out, just as certainly as this doesn't always happen in this life. Try and imagine the view of life without a just God and God who makes up, gives special preference to those who suffer and had a bad run.

I quite misunderstood Greek tragedy as a young man because I read it through Christian eyes, where a good God looks after the losers. In Greek tragedy, for the pagans the human disaster is the end of the story.

The Apocalypse is the best book for meditation on life after death (Cf. John Williams). It is full of strange metaphors of fierce conflict and worst of all, a God who allows or inflicts punishment. But these are metaphors.

But is also full of beautiful imagery of the New Jerusalem as a precious jewel, a clear-cut diamond. The almighty and the Lamb give the light, and for this reason there is no need for the sun or the moon – or for the temple. It is a vision of what our life will be like when we are living with God, a life light and peace. In this life we can only know this light and peace imperfectly, but there is no doubt that we can know it, and the experience of it leads us on. I pray today that you will continue to experience God's light and peace in your life through prayer and through the service of others, and that you will continue to follow it where ever it may lead you.

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