THE GOOD NEWS
ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN

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March 7, 2010

The Good News...

           ...Rite of Election

Cathedral of Our Lady
Rite of Election
February 21, 2010

My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

With great joy I greet all of you, candidates, catechumens, sponsors, RCIA  directors,  catechists  and pastors.  You have come from all over our Archdiocese. Some of you had to drive several hours to come here to Our Lady’s Cathedral for this Rite of Election. I sincerely thank you for being here and for your beautiful faith response.

Some of you I know because of your dedicated service and your long-standing commitment to our holy, Catholic Church. Others I have met only recently in visiting parishes throughout the Archdiocese. I am very pleased that a good number of you introduced yourselves to me at those visits. It was so good to meet you and witness your enthusiastic anticipation and joy as you prepare to enter the Catholic Church. All of you are most welcome here today and I greet you in the glorious Name of Jesus, our Lord.

The two readings from the Scriptures that have just been proclaimed, while always enlightening, are extremely encouraging and relevant for today’s Rite of Election.  

The First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles described the effects of Pentecost which simply means “fifty.” It was the 50th day following Passover. Thus, today Pentecost is the 50th day after Easter. At the first Christian Pentecost, following the death and resurrection and ascension of Jesus into heaven, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles. This Divine Person, the Holy Spirit, came in fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that He would be with His Church forever. Rightly then do we say that Pentecost is the birthday of the Catholic Church.

Immediately upon receiving the Holy Spirit, the Apostles went out to face the crowds of Jerusalem, whom they had previously feared.  Remember, the Bible tells us that at that time, the Apostles were in a room that was locked, precisely because they were afraid of the large crowd coming up to Jerusalem for the feast.  But through the descent of the Holy Spirit upon them, they were radically changed. Now, gifted with the Spirit of God, they accepted and fulfilled their mandate. They publicly proclaimed the Good News of Jesus and they challenged their hearers to repent of their sins and to be baptized. That day about 3,000 thousand people were baptized and the Church established by Jesus and guided by the Holy Spirit was born.

What is the Good News of Jesus that the Apostles proclaimed and began to teach on that first Christian Pentecost? It is the message we heard in the Second Scripture Reading from Saint John’s Gospel.  It is the message of the Catholic Church handed down faithfully for the past 2,000 years. That message is the invitation from God that has brought you here today. You are chosen. You are invited. You are welcome to continue to prepare to join fully with us at this Easter Vigil.

Saint John’s Gospel reminds us of the plan of God for you and for me and indeed for the entire human race. “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.”  God, our Almighty Father, Creator of the Universe, Maker of all good things, sent His Son Jesus to be our Savior. This is the Good News that Peter and the Apostles proclaimed on that first Christian Pentecost. This is the Good News of the Gospel of Saint John and the other Evangelists.  This is the Good News the Catholic Church invites you to receive as we continue to acknowledge, to proclaim and to share this Truth:  — “There is only one Lord, one Savior and He is Christ the Lord.” There is salvation in no other name or person.  Jesus alone is Lord and Savior."

After the sinful fall of Adam and Eve, the world was enveloped in the darkness of sin.  Only because of the goodness and love of God was there any hope because He promised "I will send My Son and He will save you."  

This Old Testament covenant was fulfilled when Jesus came to our world.  He lived, suffered and died for us.  Here He fulfilled the Old Testament covenant and established a new Covenant, His Church, in which He incorporates us into His Body. Yes, the Church is the Body of Christ and  serves as the light to the whole world.  This is possible because Jesus is the True Light.  And it is He Who commissions the Church, His Body, to share fully in His mission and ministry.  Thus, through the ministry of the Church, the True Light of Christ is reflected.  This is the only reason the Church, too, is a light to the whole world.

Your membership in the Catholic Church might result from a dynamic call and conversation like that of Saint Paul.  Or, more than likely, it is a temporary pause in a long and arduous pilgrimage of faith.  I say temporary only because membership in the Catholic Church demands a continuous journey of repentance and growth in faith.  Membership in the Catholic Church commits us to a firm belief in Jesus and in all that He has revealed to us!

Dear Catechumens and Candidates, the Catholic faith is truly a gift from God.  As you prepare to receive this gift of faith, the Church is focusing on your Initiation.  In fact, the two or three sacraments you plan to receive at the Easter Vigil are called Sacraments of Initiation.  As you know, they are Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.  When you receive these sacraments, you will be filled with great joy.  You will be fully received into the active life of the Catholic Church.  However, you must remember that being a Catholic is more than a single moment or a solitary vigil experience.  Being a Catholic is a way of life.  As your Archbishop, therefore, tonight, I not only confirm that you are a member of the elect, chosen and gifted by God…I also call you to live the fullness of our Catholic faith all the days of your lives.  You must remember and celebrate not only the three Sacraments of Initiation but also other sacraments and necessary practices.

Jesus instituted all seven sacraments, each for different times and circumstances.  Thus in addition to celebrating the three Sacraments of Initiation now, you will need to develop a special practice of the Sacrament of Penance.  Sometimes we refer to this as the Sacrament of Reconciliation or simply "going to Confession."  Confession is not an option for Catholics.  The Sacrament of Penance is the ordinary way for a Catholic to receive forgiveness for serious sins.  Therefore, do not take your newfound Catholicism for granted.  Rather, practice it faithfully and completely all the days of  your lives.

The Catholic Church is a pilgrim Church.  We are founded by Jesus, guided by the Holy Spirit and led to our Father in heaven.  May the peace and love of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be upon you today as you freely and lovingly express your intention to enter into this on-going, beautiful pilgrimage of faith of God's people.  Welcome and God bless you!