Mass for the ‘Walk With Mary’

Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne
on Sunday, 26th March, 2006, at 3.00pm

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Welcome to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral as together we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Lent and proceed on the Walk with Mary.

Yesterday’s feast of the Annunciation of the Lord to Mary, which has been celebrated since the sixth century, is a reminder that it is Jesus, the Word of God, who becomes Son of Mary, and the Virgin Mary, who becomes Mother of God.

Our pilgrimage with her is meant for us to follow her in being totally open to Jesus, as was she – the one without sin.

Let us remember our sins and seek God’s forgiveness.

Homily

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today, my dear friends, with the memory of Mary’s waiting for the Lord, we are challenged in our journey by the Lord’s similar encounter with Nicodemus in today’s Gospel.

Mary had spent her life waiting for the coming of the Lord and at the words of the angel, “Rejoice so highly favoured.  The Lord is with you”, Mary, at first afraid, realised that God’s favour was with her.  By total entrustment of herself to the Lord she would be his strong witness.

Mary perfectly reflects Jesus’ acceptance of his mission.  In the words of the Letter to the Hebrews, “God, here I am.  I am coming to obey your will”, is reflected the creaturely words of Mary responding to the angel:  “I am the handmaid of the Lord.  Be it done to me according to your word.”  (Luke 1:38)

As we seek to imitate Mary’s response and perfect oneness with Jesus, though our minds are darkened by original sin, as hers was not, the challenge that we have is to respond as she did. 

Nicodemus could not risk being identified with Jesus, so he came to visit Jesus by night.  He had the good news, but he was afraid to tell anyone.  Is there a bit of Nicodemus in you or me?  We know and love Jesus, but we are frightened about it.  God loves us so much that he gives us the perfect sign of the cross, which leads us through our life knowing that it is all worthwhile.

Notice Jesus’ words.  “God loved the world so much he gave his only Son that everyone who believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life.”  “God sent his Son so that through him the world might be saved.”  “The man who lives by the truth comes out into the light so that it may be plainly seen that what he does is done in God.” 

Jesus challenges us to live fully the Good News that he has offered us to be saved.  He has helped us to know Jesus as our great friend and Redeemer, to have a hope, which the world cannot give.  Just as the Jews remembered Jerusalem, we cannot forget Jesus.  We carry him with us.  At the end of Mass we will remember the difference that this light makes; justice in living, hope and truth in a correspondence between God’s Word and our actions, and an enthusiasm and vibrant love which shows to others what God has given to us.

In this Lenten season we might well take the words of Cardinal Newman, who explains that watching for Christ as Our Lady did means being alive and zealous in looking for him and honouring him in all situations and in all that happens to us.  For us the test is that the person who habitually watches for Christ would not be overly anxious to find out that he is coming at once.  Watching with Christ means renewing Christ’s life in our own lives, including his passion and death.  In Lent the challenge, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34) is followed by the challenge, which Newman articulates, “True Christians watch, inconsistent Christians do not.” 

Jesus was the total focus of Mary’s life.  His zeal to redeem us was the purpose of this focus.  Mary lives in heaven, interceding to Jesus and his Father for us because she is Mother of the Church.  We have reason to thank God.            In the words of the Psalm, “Come and listen and I will tell what wonderful things he has done for my soul.” 

Dear friends, let us remember that God’s light is never going out.  If we ponder his Gospel and live it, then what we do and give for others will be sincere and will change the world.  Jesus wants us to see his glory and to be carried along and challenged by it.  It is possible.  We are so lucky.  The man who lives by the truth comes out into the light so that it may be plainly seen that what he does is done in God.  May this truth guide our life now and always.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.