Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mass Celebrated by Archbishop Hart
at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne,
on Sunday, 24th July, 2005, at 11.00am

Homily

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Cardinal Newman once said, “Ask yourselves if in the event of the kingdom of heaven disappearing there might be something in your life you would have to change; if you are aware of nothing to be changed it is because your life is not staked on Christ and the kingdom.”

The Christian life we received in baptism is something which stands out against every other way of life, whether social, professional or family. There are certain limits, but in Christian living an overwhelming passion for Christ that has no limits, a love for others as he loved us, is an invitation to a remarkable future, great possibilities, wonderful hope.

What would you do to experience the kingdom of God? To know forgiveness, undeserved and unexpected – by God who does not remember our sins - to be accepted, warts and all. As Saint Paul says, we are named as good and cherished children of God and God’s love for us makes us capable of loving him. Or as Saint Paul puts it, ‘God first foreknew us, then predestined us, then called us and justified us and glorified us.’

Not everyone is called to be Christian. If we are called by Jesus, it means our God has a special love for us and invites you and me to give hope.

Perhaps in the Prayer of the Mass – “God our Father and protector, without you nothing is holy, nothing has value. Guide us to everlasting life by helping us to use wisely the blessings you have promised to the world.” You have revealed to little ones the mysteries of your kingdom; the pearl of great price, the willing obedience that makes us friends of God.”

This is God’s invitation to us.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.