Homily given by Bishop Anthony Randazzo
Bishop of Broken Bay
IGNITE Conference 2025 on the Feast of Saint Benedict
10 July 2025
My dear young brothers and sisters in Christ, I would like to begin this holy moment with words written over 1,400 years ago, yet they echo with life and purpose today. Pope Saint Gregory the Great, writing about Saint Benedict, said: “The man of God who shone on this earth among so many miracles was just as brilliant in the eloquent exposition of his teaching.”
Saint Benedict of Norcia, whose feast we celebrate today, was not only a person of prayer and contemplation, but one who helped lay the foundation of a civilization, of a culture, built upon Jesus Christ. In a time and a world of collapse and chaos, Saint Benedict shone with the steady light of Christ. He taught, he formed disciples, and he planted seeds of reform, renewal, and reimagination. He created places where the Gospel could breathe, grow, and change lives. And now, you, yes, you, are called to do the same.
You are not gathered here by accident. You are not listening to these Scriptures or celebrating this Eucharist by coincidence. Like Saint Benedict, we live in a time of uncertainty, of noise and confusion, where darkness tries to shout louder than the light. But you are not children of the dark. You are daughters and sons of the Light. You belong to Jesus Christ.
In today’s Gospel from Saint Matthew, Jesus speaks clearly to his disciples about what it means to be sent. He tells them, and us, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.” That might sound like a warning, but it is actually a commissioning, because Jesus also gives this promise: “Do not worry about how to speak or what to say… because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.” (Matt 10:20)
The Holy Spirit, the very power that raised Jesus from the dead, is not just above you or beside you. The Spirit of God is in you.
My brothers and sisters, you do not need to be afraid of what the world might throw at you. You are not on your own. You are anointed. You are empowered. You are sent. And yes, living the faith we profess is sometimes challenging. The light seems small. The darkness feels strong. But the Word of God never asks you to be the source of the light. It asks you to carry the light. That light is Jesus. His mercy, his truth, his compassion, his love. Let him shine in you.
Can we also remember what God said to Jacob in our first reading today from the Book of Genesis: “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt… for I will go down with you.” (Gen 46:3-4)
Whatever your “Egypt” is, your fear, your uncertainty, your insecurity, your doubt, God goes with you. Jesus Christ goes before you and walks with you. And the Holy Spirit speaks through you.
The world is longing for something real, something beautiful, something holy. The world is longing for Jesus. You, my sisters and brothers, have met him. Some of you are just beginning to know him. Others are rediscovering his love. But all of you are called to be heralds of the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
So how do we do this? How do we shine the light of Christ?
Like Saint Benedict, we begin with encounter. There is no substitute for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. You cannot give what you do not have.
Let Jesus look into your heart. Let Jesus speak to your soul. Let Jesus heal the wounds, strengthen the weak spots, and pour out his Holy Spirit over your life. And then, go. Go into your schools, your parishes, your cities, your digital spaces. Be the light. Proclaim the truth. Love boldly. Serve generously. Forgive relentlessly. Stand firm in Jesus.
The light of Christ is not just for your own comfort; it is for mission. And that mission is urgent. That mission is now.
Saint Benedict once wrote in his Rule: “Run while you have the light of life, that the darkness of death may not overtake you.” (Prologue verse 13) My dear people, run! Run toward Jesus. Run with the Gospel. And do not look back. You are not alone. The Church is with you. The saints are cheering for you. The Holy Spirit is within you.
You were not made for mediocrity. You were made for mission.
You were not made to fit in. You were made to stand out.
You were not made to hide your light. You were made to shine.
So, shine, my young brothers and sisters. Shine with the light of Christ in a darkened world.
And may Saint Benedict walk with you, as you build a new civilization of love and truth: one heart, one soul, one witness at a time. Amen.