The Second Rite of Penance at West Thomastown Parish

Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
at St Clare's, West Thomastown
on Thursday, 30th March, 2006, at 7.30pm

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As Easter draws near we come to make our hearts and minds one in Jesus Christ, that we may see him and look at others with the gaze of compassion which Jesus himself showed.

It is a realignment of our values, a turning of our self from our individual concerns to readiness to worship God and serve others.  This service is a wonderful invitation to be touched by God’s Word, to bow our heads in forgiveness, to be lifted up to newness of life with the strength that comes from God.

Homily

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Tonight we are preparing together to celebrate the beautiful Sacrament of reconciliation and forgiveness.

In coming to the priest we come to Jesus, who looks not on our sin but on our need for forgiveness and peace.  With perfect trust in Our Lord, we come before him.

In the Gospel we have just read Jesus challenges us to remain in his word, to know the truth, to find freedom from sin and from self. 

This passage is tremendously powerful because it highlights what a follower of Jesus is:

1. Discipleship begins with belief.  When we accept that what Jesus says is true, then we will find the real meaning of life.
2. Discipleship means constantly remaining in the word of Jesus and this involves two things –
   1. Listening to the word of Jesus, so that we never act without asking ourselves, what would Jesus do, without a pause for reflection.
   2. It involves constant learning from Jesus.  All his life the Christian needs to be learning more about Jesus.  A closed mind is the end of discipleship.
   3. It means going deeper and deeper into the truth because we do not understand the full meaning of all that Jesus says just by one contact.  Constantly thinking about what he has said will help us to know more of its meaning.
   4. Constantly obeying Jesus’ word.  We do not want to be intellectually satisfied.  We learn in order to do.  The truth that Jesus brought is destined for action.
3. Discipleship shows in knowing the truth.  To learn from Jesus is to learn the truth.  You will know the truth.  What is my calling in life?  How can I respond to Jesus better?  What is right and what is wrong?  It is the truth which makes our conscience work properly.  In the truth of Jesus we see those things which are important and those which are not.
4. Discipleship means freedom.  The truth will make you free.  In Jesus’ service is perfect freedom.  As disciples we are –
   1. Free from fear. 
   2. Free from self. 
   3. Free from other people, not afraid about what others may think and say.  H. G. Wells once said that the voice of our neighbour sounds louder in our ears than the voice of God.  A disciple thinks only of what God says. 
   4. It brings freedom from sin.  Sometimes we feel we are trapped.  Discipleship breaks these chains and enables us to be Jesus’ followers, as we know we ought to be.

Friends, as we examine our conscience, let us turn to the Lord and ask him to show us the way to truth and life through forgiveness and the strength that only his forgiveness can give.  This is the promise he gives to each of us on this wonderful evening.  Let us use it well by coming to this transforming and wonderful Sacrament.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.