Good Friday

Homily Preached by Archbishop Denis Hart
at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne,
on Friday, 14th April, 2006, at 3.00pm

Homily

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The story of God’s limitless love for us and the lengths to which he was prepared to go for you and for me has rung out through the Cathedral.

Each of us is touched by the knowledge of love and goodness he has shown and challenged by our own weakness.  Jesus from the cross invites us to conversion of heart, sacramental confession and a new way of life, filled with hope.

Today shows the Father’s mercy perfectly.  As we pray in the Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation, “When we were lost and could not find the way to you, you loved us more than ever:  Jesus your Son, innocent and without sin, gave himself into our hands and was nailed to a cross.” 

After hearing the passion, the Church puts the adoration of the cross at the centre of today’s liturgy, not as a symbol of death, but as a source of authentic life.  The cross of Christ is lifted up on the world as a banner of hope for all who in faith welcome its mystery into their lives.  Saint Peter said to the Christians in Asia Minor, “You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ like that of a lamb without blemish.”  (1 Peter 1:18-19)

Dear friends, as we ponder how much God’s personal love comes to each of us, let us not forget our capacity to respond and go forward with him.  His cross is always a banner of hope leading us forward.  May it be an invitation to conversion for each of us here today.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.