Passion Sunday

Mass Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne,
on Sunday, 9th April, 2006, at 11.00am

Introduction

(Already given in the Roman Missal)

Homily

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We have just listened to the story of the infinite love of our God for us in Jesus.

We learn the secret of the resurrection when we learn the secret of the cross.  And it is when we are called to share in some way in the suffering of Christ that we come to understand not only what he experienced but what this was leading to.  For every cross leads to resurrection.  I like to think of life as each day being prepared by God’s providence, and it is in many ways the road to the cross.  But it leads to greater understanding of our Lord, a greater sharing in his resurrection.

Each day should see me more humble; each day more willing to accept what comes my way.  Thus I become more closely united to the Lord – grow, as I grow in grace, in the love of the Father.

Let us consider the value of the cross in the Church, pondering the words of Saint Paul:  “I am glad of my sufferings on your behalf, as in this mortal frame of mine I help to pay off the debt which the afflictions of Christ still leave to be paid, for the sake of his body, the Church.”  Words difficult to understand, but of enormous consolation:  when the cross weighs heavily this is contributing to the whole life of the Church.  The cross is not something to make us less human.  No, it leads us in Christ and with Christ to the Father.  This is the Gospel.  This is Saint Paul:  I share in the passion of Christ, to share in his resurrection.”  And again:  “Risen with Christ you must lift your thoughts above, where Christ now sits at the right hand of God.  You must be heavenly-minded, not earthly-minded.  You have undergone death, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  Christ is your life and when he is made manifest, you too will be made manifest in glory with him.”  (George Basil Hume, O.S.B., Searching for God, p. 144)

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.