Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mass Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne,
on Sunday, 26th June, 2005, at 11.00am

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we extend a very warm welcome to members of the Australian Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and in particular to His Excellency, Grand Hospitaller Albrect Freiherr von Boeselager, the National President, Mr. Tony Macken, and all of the members.

On those who give themselves entirely to Jesus, he gives a love, which is diffusive, espousing contacts with people, being a missionary to extend the presence of Christ, being given for others.

Homily

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

To love Christ truly is to love him more than any other, more than even our own life. To follow Christ is to take up his cross. To welcome Christ is to welcome the one he sends.

Today’s Gospel provides us with a strong invitation about the priorities in our life. Because Jesus is our God we are invited to give our all for him and to imitate him by being given for others.

The Knights of Malta are given a similar invitation that the work they do as members of the Order is a particular part of the following of Christ. The two characteristics, which distinguish the Order of Malta, are: ‘Tuitio Fidei’ (the Defence of the Faith) and ‘Obsequium Pauperum’ (the Service to the Poor). These observe most faithfully the aim of Blessed Fra Gerard, the Order’s Founder, as to what should be the nature, spirit and character of the foundation.

‘Tuitio’ is more often than not translated from the Latin into the English as, ‘Defence’, but it should be more than this. Without denying the ‘defensive’ need, a better translation, especially for the needs of today, might be ‘cultivation’. To both defend and nurture the Faith, there are three ways of doing so; prayer, study – especially of the Scriptures, and the practice of virtue.

‘Obsequium Pauperium’, the second of the dual purposes of the Order should not simply be translated as meaning ‘Care of the Poor’ or ‘Service to the Poor’. It is much more profound than this, in that it has the meanings of ‘obedience’ and ‘allegiance’ in classical Latin. This, therefore, implies a service that elevates the stature of the poor and the sick – the unfortunates - in society. The Order of Malta cannot be simply a relief organisation. The vision of Blessed Fra Gerard was that the fortunate are to become the servants, the sick and the poor to be our ‘Lords’, fulfilling the words of Christ, “Whatever you did to the least of my brothers and sisters, you did to me.” ( Matthew, 25 ).

They devote their skill and great resources to the service of others as instanced by the recent pilgrimage to Lourdes and the strong association with Caritas Christi Hospice and Eastern Palliative Care, which the Order in Victoria has maintained for a number of years. Here is a particular illustration of the Christian embracing the cross of suffering and striving, like the Redeemer, to be given for others.

For each of us here in Saint Patrick’s genuine Christian service in the little things of everyday is highly significant. The Lord’s teaching that from those to whom more is given more will be expected, are a reminder not merely of responsibility, but of the possibilities that we can see.

First, to take up the challenge of following Christ, Pope John Paul and Pope Benedict have stressed the importance of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament so that we are drawn to Christ as to a magnet to find in him the strength for our service of family and community.

Second, a particular way of the taking up of our cross is the witness that we provide to a society which is largely self-seeking and unbelieving of the value of permanent commitment, of the particular gifts of a Christian understanding of the human person, and of the realisation which flows from this, that everything we have and are is God’s gift. Part of taking up our cross is to bear the responsibility of using our gifts to make this world a better place and to remind it of its ultimate destiny.

Christian service in the community whether in business, the professions or in the day-to-day affairs of the commercial world, is always inspired by a vision of being for others rather than for self. Indeed, perhaps the greatest challenge in this modern, self-centred world is for us to be generous, nay, radical in embracing the following of Jesus, which means we are propelled despite being outside our own comfort zone into being for others.

These are the goals, which have inspired the particular philanthropic and caring work of the Order of Malta since its inception and which has glorified its long history. Here in Melbourne and Australia the recognition that we are fortunate materially, or gifted in our talents, challenges us to thank God for the gifts which are given and to use them in service of others. If we live because we are disciples, it is Christ that we are showing and as Jesus promises us in today’s Gospel we will most certainly not lose our reward.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.