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Chrism
Mass Homily My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: How wonderful it is to see so many of you here tonight for this Chrism Mass. You have come from parishes throughout the Archdiocese because you are a people of faith. You have come to join me and the priests of our Archdiocese in the blessing of the Holy Oils and the Sacred Chrism. These blessed oils will be used by me and the priests and deacons in the celebration of the sacraments in your own parishes for the next twelve months. Through this ceremony, you and I continue the spiritual bond that unites us as members of the holy Catholic Church. For this ceremony, the priests who minister here in the Archdiocese concelebrate the Mass as witnesses and cooperators with me, their archbishop. Their presence here also signifies the unity between bishops and priests and, indeed, between all who are united in Christ. Priests participate in the consecration of the Chrism because they share in the sacred office of the bishop in building up, sanctifying and ruling the people of God. This Mass is, therefore, a clear expression of the unity of the priesthood and sacrifice of Christ which continue to be present in the Church today. It is most beneficial, therefore, that tonight we heard the very instructive Gospel passage from Saint Luke. It is something we are familiar with and are able to visualize that historic scene in our own minds. Remember, at the time referred to in the Gospel, Jesus had already won over the hearts of many people. His signs and words attracted them and His miracles amazed them. Thus He was looked upon as “the Teacher.” Coming back to Galilee, therefore, He was warmly welcomed and praised by all. Jesus went to the synagogue for it was the Sabbath Day. Standing up to read, He unrolled the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Then, He selected the passage from the prophet which pointed to the Messiah. This was a familiar reading. The people had heard it many times. They knew that the Spirit of the Lord God would be upon the Messiah. They knew He would be the Anointed One. They understood that He would have a special mission – to heal, to cure, to call people to repentance and conversion. They knew all this because Isaiah was read regularly and expounded on by the rabbis and teachers. What they didn’t know was the declaration Jesus would make after He finished the reading. It was then that He proclaimed and announced the really Good News: “Today, this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” Can you imagine how startled the people were to hear this claim of Jesus? This is what they had long awaited – what they hoped for - what they had lived for. This announcement by the One they had come to respect and follow was truly good news that their expectations were actually fulfilled in their hearing! The good news Jesus proclaimed in Nazareth was not just for that day or that place or only for those people. The good news of Jesus’ coming and of His redemption and of His mercy and love is fulfilled in our hearing, in our sight, in our presence. Jesus established a New Covenant with His people. It would no longer be the blood of bulls or goats that would be sacrificed. It would now be His Body that would be nailed to a Cross. It would now be His Blood poured out for us. We would no longer be orphans for He would be with us at all times. The eternal plan of God was fulfilled by the life, the death and the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus is the High Priest of this New Covenant. He established it. He made it effective. He watches over it and He continues it by commissioning His Church to take the good news and live it and share it with all people everywhere! This commissioning of the Church by Jesus occurred during His public ministry when He instructed His apostles, challenged them and reproved them whenever necessary. It was clearly effected and revealed when on the first Christian Pentecost Jesus sent His Holy Spirit upon the Church. Then the apostles understood. They went forward with enthusiasm and zeal because it was then that they knew it was no longer only them. Now it was Jesus living and working in them and again, the Scripture was fulfilled in their hearing. The ministry and mission of Jesus continues in this New Covenant time right before us. The mission continues in our hearing, in our praying, in our unity. These priests, ordained by the Catholic Church, together with me, their bishop, have been called by God to celebrate the Presence of Jesus among us in sacramental signs. Through baptism, through confirmation and especially through the Eucharist, the priest acts in the Name and on the authority, indeed, in the Person of Jesus Christ. Yes, the Scripture passage is fulfilled among us and we are blessed, we are healed, we are nourished and now we are filled with faith and hope and love because Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Savior, our Redeemer, remains among us through the ministry of His priests. Thus, it is providential that our priests gather together with me for the blessing of the oils and the consecration of the chrism which we will use in the sacramental rites we celebrate. Therefore, it is also fitting that the priests gathered here will make a public renewal of their commitment of priestly service. Thank you, Fathers, for being here. Thank you for hearing the call of Christ Who invited you to become priests. Thank you for responding affirmatively to the call to priesthood. Pray with me and with your people that other young men, some of whom are here in the congregation tonight, will have the courage and the wisdom to answer God’s call to priesthood. Pray for me and for all your brothers and sisters that we will all walk safely on the pilgrim journey of life to life everlasting in heaven. Now, my dear brother priests, before God and His people, I ask you to renew your priestly commitments with joy and gratitude and in faith. Will the priests please stand. Most Reverend Eusebius J. Beltran |