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Bishop Anthony Randazzo's Homily for Chrism Mass

Homily given by Bishop Anthony Randazzo

Bishop of Broken Bay

Chrism Mass
Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral
Tuesday 12 April 2022

“The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus” (Evangelii Gaudium 1). This erudite instruction from Pope Francis, is central to our celebration, as we recall the sacred anointing of all the faithful through baptism and confirmation, and in a particular way the anointing and consecration of our priests through ordination.

The joy of the Gospel is the fruit of the love of God, made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord. That same joy brings to birth a peace that is everlasting. Love, joy, and peace are the promise of eternal life in Christ.

Of course, temptation is always lurking to hoodwink us into believing that love, joy, and peace are ours. That they begin and end with us, in our community, in our mission and ministry. This is one of the dangers of our time. To be inward-looking, and to look for inspiration from the world, rather than from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This does not mean that the world has nothing to offer. The Church has always engaged with the world because this is not only our right, but also our duty. However, like Jesus in Luke’s Gospel, we engage with the world because the Spirit of the Lord has been given to us, for the Lord has anointed us (cf. Isaiah 61:1).

In his Apostolic Exhortion, Evangelii Gaudium, the Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis stressed that “to be evangelisers of souls, we need to develop a spiritual taste for being close to people’s lives and to discover that this is itself a source of greater joy” (cf EG268).

While this is true for all of Christ’s faithful, it is particularly true for our priests.

My dear brothers in the priesthood, while our anointing as priests sets us apart, it never separates us from the People of God. It certainly never places us over them.

Our priestly anointing is made on the foundation of our baptism, which unites us with the whole body of Christ.

Our priestly anointing must emphasise how our relationship with the holy People of God is for each of us not only a duty, but a grace. Again, Pope Francis reminds us that “loving others is a spiritual force drawing us to union with God” (EG272). This is why the ordinary place of every priest is in the midst of people, in relationship to others.

In our Gospel this evening, the Evangelist Luke reminds us that the mission of Christ is also the passion of Jesus and therefore mission and passion are united for his disciples.

Through priestly accompaniment, all women and men anointed in Christ, necessarily share in Christ’s mission and therefore in his passion.

Our sacred anointing, be it on the head, the breast, or on the hands, is always done in the Sign of the Cross. As such, mission and passion are united in their beginning and in their end.

The Prophet Isaiah foretells the work of all the baptised and in particular the work of the ministerial priesthood. To bring good news to the poor; to bind up hearts that are broken; to proclaim liberty to captives; freedom to those in prison; to comfort those who mourn; to give them a garland, the oil of gladness, praise (cf Isaiah 61:1-3).

My dear brother priests, as Jesus realises this prophecy in the Gospel, we can see that he desires to work in and through us so that He might draw even nearer to God’s holy people.

In so doing, He chooses us from the people for the people, and He sends us to His people. The prophet Isaiah confirms that “you will be named ‘priests of the Lord’” (cf Isaiah 61:6). Priestly identity cannot be understood without this belonging to the holy faithful People of God (cf Pope Francis, 17 February 2022).

With this in mind this evening, we recall that the priestly ministry entrusted to us is always given for our good and the good of God’s holy Church.

The early Christian scholar and theologian, Origen of Alexandria, reminds us “there ought always to be fire on the altar (Lev 6:12), if you want to be a priest of God… if you want to exercise the priesthood of your soul, never let the fire go out on your altar” (Origen, Isaiah 62:6).

With these thoughts, my brothers and sisters, let us join our prayers together now, as we ask the Lord Jesus, our only Shepherd and Priest, to set afire the hearts of our beloved priests, that they might remain faithful to their vocation to the ministerial priesthood.

Pray for them to be good and faithful shepherds after the heart of Christ. Pray too that being more like Christ the priest, they will remain close to you, God’s holy people, so that together as one body in Christ we might announce the love and the joy and the peace of Christ to the world.