10:30am Solemn Mass at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 19 September 21

[Music] [Music] so [Music] foreign [Music] um [Music] oh [Music] all [Music] me [Music] in here [Music] i [Music] [Applause] [Music] is [Music] in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit [Music] peace be with you and [Music] a warm welcome to saint mary's basilica the cathedral church of sydney for this live stream solemn mass of the 25th sunday of ordinary time as a church in australia approaches a forthcoming plenary council we listen especially intently to the spirit speaking to the church in the word of god that our ears might be opened we first repent of anything that might make us resistant to hearing that still quiet voice especially our sins i confess to almighty god and to you my brothers and sisters that i have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words in what i have done and in what i have failed to do through my fault through my fault through my most grievous fault therefore i ask blessed mary ever virgin all the angels and saints and you my brothers and sisters to pray for me to the lord our god may almighty god have mercy on us forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life is [Music] [Applause] christmas [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] glory are in exchange [Music] [Applause] foreign [Music] is [Music] yes [Applause] [Music] me [Music] let us pray oh god who founded all the commands of your sacred law upon love of you and of our neighbor grant that by keeping your precepts we may merit to attain eternal life through our lord jesus christ your son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the holy spirit god for ever and ever [Music] a reading from the book of wisdom the godless say to themselves let us lie in wait for the virtuous man since he annoys us and opposes our way of life reproaches us for our breaches of the law and accuses us of playing false to our upbringing let us see if what he says is true lets us observe what kind of end he himself will have if the virtuous man is god's son god will take his part and rescue him from the clutches of his enemies let us test him with cruelty and with torture and thus explore this gentleness of his and put his endurance to the proof let us condemn him to a shameful death since he will be looked after we have his word for it so this is the word of the [Music] lord uphold my life o god save me by your name by your powers o god hear my prayer listen to the words of my mom the lord men have risen against me ruthless men seek my life [Music] i will sacrifice to you with willing [Music] a reading from the letter of saint james wherever you find jealousy and ambition you find disharmony and wicked things of every kind being done whereas the wisdom that comes down from above is essentially something pure it also makes for peace and is kindly and considerate it is full of compassion and shows itself by doing good nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it peacemakers when they work for peace sow the seeds which will bear fruit in holiness where do these wars and battles between yourself first start isn't it precisely in the desires fighting inside your own selves you want something and you haven't got it so you are prepared to kill you have an ambition that you cannot satisfy so you fight to get your way by force why you don't have what you want is because you don't pray for it when you do pray and don't get it it is because you have not prayed properly you have prayed for something to indulge your own desires this is the word of the lord [Music] to share the glory of our jesus [Music] the lord be with you and with your spirit [Music] a reading from the holy gospel according to the lord after leaving the mountain jesus and his disciples made their way through galilee and he did not want anyone to know because he was instructing his disciples he was telling them the son of man will be delivered into the hands of men they will put him to death and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again but they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask him they went they came to capernaum and when he was in the house he asked them what were you arguing about on the road they said nothing because they had been arguing which of them was the greatest so he sat down called the twelve to him and said if anyone wants to be first he must make himself last of all and servant of all he then took a little child set him in front of them put his arms around him and said to them anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me [Music] the 19th century russian playwright anton chekhov was also an important contributor to the evolution of the short story his principle known as chekhov's gun forbade including elements that are not going to be paid off later in the story if in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall he wrote then in the following one it should be fired otherwise don't put it there given how little space there is in a short story every detail must count saint mark the short story writer of the new testament followed a similar rule dispensing with many of the healings and teachings reported by the other three evangelists and offering slimmed down versions even of the stories they tell in common home town of capernaum for instance is mentioned 16 times in the gospels it's associated with family and forgiveness fasting and worship exorcisms and healings with prophecy and cursing with the crowd pursuing jesus across the lake in boats and with jesus crossing the same lake unassisted it's a busy gospel place but mark mentions it only three times at the beginning of the gospel when jesus and his first four disciples went to capernaum and when the sabbath came he entered the synagogue and taught and all were astounded at his teaching for he taught as one having real authority a few verses later we're told after some days he returned to capernaum which he had made his base and there he healed many we have the loaded gun so to speak seven chapters later mark fires the gun the team which now includes 12 apostles and some women are again on their way to capernaum but they are bickering not about the mystery of the incarnation by which there mate jesus is somehow also son of god not about his death and resurrection which he has just prophesied no rather than crucial questions of christian doctrine identity and mission their focus is on who is the greatest essen james observes disharmony comes from jealousy ambition the desire always to get one's own way but in mark's gospel we know that capernaum is the place of instruction where jesus taught with authority and the place of homecoming and healing where he was at ease with his relatives friends and clients so he sits down to teach them another lesson if you really want to be first put yourself last among the gentiles the rulers lord it over them but it must not be so among you whoever wishes to be great among you must be the servant like the son of man who came to serve not to be served the gun has fired what were you arguing about together on the road the lord asks in greek together on the road is sin odos from which we get our word synod in the lead up to the fifth plenary council of australia there's been a lot of talk about the failures of some past church leaders and the exercise of power self-servingly unaccountably even harmfully as the royal commission pointed out we must find better ways of exercising authority together and well but should we throw the ecclesial baby out with the bath water the second vatican council confirmed the ancient faith that the church is the whole people of god and that the hierarchical structure that serves them is divinely instituted assuming secular accounts of power and aping secular models of governance some would reduce the role of pastors to the ceremonial while leaving church governance to boards of lay experts but such proposals are at odds with catholic faith as today's gospel highlights however imperfect they may be christ's troop has the twelve at its heart ours is essentially an apostolic or episcopal church what's more structures are for mission not vice versa if we're not sure what our purpose is how can a model of governance be judged fit for purpose the task of a plenary council is to reflect upon the gifts and challenges of the day and prayerfully discern the best pastoral responses if we're clear-sighted about the mission to welcome the son and the one who sent him their needed structural changes will become apparent clearly it's important that there be wide consultation of the laity that many voices be heard that co-responsibility be recognized and authority shared that people's expertise be deployed that sclerotic processes be fixed and that we conceive of the church in collaborative collegial cynical terms as pope francis asks we are well down that road already lay women have always determined the course of the church above all by having children or not and transmitting the faith to them or not but if the parish church and school are the principal meeting points for most people with the church they usually encounter a priest as leader of the one and a lay woman as leader of the other in this archdiocese most departments and agencies are headed either by laymen or more often by lay women there are lay women and men on the formation team and council of the seminary our curia and diocesan committees as board members or leaders of our parish councils and ministries schools and universities hospitals and aged care social services and chaplaincies religious institutes movements and pjps others have established their own excellent ministries of their own initiative in recent years women have been national directors of catholic education health and social services echoing the lead formerly given by women religious granted much of this is under appreciated but even as we make great strides in this area we must be wary of creating new power elites and a new lay version of clericalism no more squabbling over power jesus says for christians authority is about service not control indeed looking beyond marx capernaum we see in john's gospel that it was at capernaum that some of the disciples left jesus because his teachings on the eucharist were so hard the other two gospels also recalled that jesus was exasperated by the lack of faith at capernaum ultimately we either ascend to christ's teachings and make our home in his church or we stop walking together and take another course to remain we must embrace him with the enthusiasm of children in 587 a.d with the connivance of the byzantine emperor archbishop john iv of constantinople assumed the title ecumenical patriarch or father of the civilized world in response pope gregory the first called himself service servorum dei servant of the servants of god great popes ever since have preferred this title above all as pope francis clearly does it suggests an inverted pyramid with god and humanity at the top so to speak served by the people of god below them with the people of god served by deacons and priests beneath them the priests and people served in turn by bishops archbishops and cardinals under them and all of these servants of god served by the successor of peter at the bottom of the hierarchy or lorachi it's not the way the world sees things but if we focus on our mission as servants of god we can be confident by god's grace that we will have the right servant leaders going forward for this we pray [Music] and he told them the son of man would be handed over and suffer grievously be put to death and rise on the third day and so we profess our faith i believe in one god the father almighty maker of heaven and earth of all things visible and invisible i believe in one lord jesus christ the only begotten son of god born of the father before all ages god from god light from light true god from true god begotten not made consubstantial with the father through him all things were made for us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven and by the holy spirit was incarnate of the virgin mary and became man for our sake he was crucified under pontius pilate he suffered death and was buried and rose again on the third day in accordance with the scriptures he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the father he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end i believe in the holy spirit the lord the giver of life who proceeds from the father and the son who with the father and the son is adored and glorified who has spoken through the prophets i believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church i confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and i look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come amen christ our lord predicted his saving death and resurrection through him the suffering servant let us bring our petitions to the father of all mercies for pope francis and for all the bishops of the catholic church that god will uphold them for his own cause let us pray to the lord lord hear our prayer for nations marked with disharmony that leaders will seek the wisdom that comes down from above and work for peace and unity let us pray to the lord lord hear our prayer for those devastated by the impact of the pandemic and the current lockdown that they will be sustained by the hope that comes from god let us pray to the lord lord hear our prayer for those whose livelihoods are being threatened that their needs will be provided for and their rights protected let us pray to the lord lord hear our prayer for all children including the little one still in their mother's womb that they will be given the welcome and care that god desires for them by willing them into existence let us pray to the lord lord hear our prayer for those who have died in christ that they may see their redeemer and live let us pray to the lord lord hear our prayer let us ask our lady help of christians and seat of wisdom to intercede for us in australia as we prepare for our plenary council and pray hail mary full of grace the lord is with thee blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb jesus holy mary mother of god pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death amen father of our savior these prayers we bring before you express our faith in your son who humbled himself to die on the cross for us and rose again to be our glorious lord who lives and reigns forever and ever amen [Music] is [Music] me [Music] it has me [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] like [Music] me [Music] [Applause] tears is [Music] so [Music] pray brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to god the almighty father receive with favor o lord we pray the offerings of your people that what they profess with devotion and faith may be theirs through these heavenly mysteries through christ our the lord be with you right [Music] [Applause] it is truly right and just our duty and our salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks lord holy father almighty and eternal god through who christ our lord for out of compassion for the waywardness that is us he humbled himself and was borehorn of the virgin by the passion of the cross he freed us from unending death and by rising from the dead he gave uh us eternal and so with angels and archangels with thrones and dominions [Music] and with all the hosts and powers of heaven we sing the hymn of your glory as without end we he acclaimed [Music] is [Music] he's [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh [Applause] [Music] [Applause] you are indeed holy oh lord and all you have created rightly gives you praise for through your son our lord jesus christ by the power and working of the holy spirit you give life to all things and make them holy and you never cease to gather a people to yourself so that from the rising of the sun to its setting a pure sacrifice may be offered to your name therefore o lord we humbly implore you by that same spirit graciously make holy these gifts we have brought to you for consecration that they may become the body and blood of your son our lord jesus christ at whose command we celebrate these mysteries for on the night he was betrayed he himself took bread and giving you thanks he said the blessing broke the bread and gave it to his disciples saying take this all of you and eat of it for this is my body which will be given up for you in a similar way when supper was ended he took the chalice and giving you thanks he said the blessing and gave the chalice to his disciples saying take this all of you and drink from it for this is the chalice of my blood the blood of the new and eternal covenant which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins do this in memory of me a mystery of faith [Music] therefore o lord as we celebrate the memorial of the saving passion of your son his wondrous resurrection and ascension into heaven and as we look forward to his second coming we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice look we pray upon the oblation of your church and recognizing the sacrificial victim by whose death you will to reconcile us to yourself grant that we who are nourished by the body and blood of your son and fill with his holy spirit may become one body one spirit in christ may he make of us an eternal offering to you so that we may obtain an inheritance with your elect especially with the most blessed virgin mary mother of god with blessed joseph her spouse with your blessed apostles and glorious martyrs and with all the saints on whose constant intercession in your presence we rely for unfailing help may this sacrifice of our reconciliation we pray o lord advance the peace and salvation of all the world be pleased to confirm in faith and charity your pilgrim church on earth with your servant francis our pope and me your unworthy servant terry and richard my assistant bishops the order of bishops or the clergy and the entire people you have gained for your own listen graciously to the prayers of this family whom you have summoned before you in your compassion o merciful father gather to yourself all your children scattered throughout the world to our departed brothers and sisters and to all who are pleasing to you at their passing from this life give kind admittance to your kingdom there we hope to enjoy forever the fullness of your glory through christ our lord through whom you bestow on the world all that is good through him and with him and in him oh god almighty father in the unity of the holy spirit [Music] all glory and honor is yours forever and [Music] at the savior's command and formed by divine teaching we dare to say our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against stars and lead us not into temptation but deliver us [Music] deliver us lord we pray from every evil graciously grant peace in our days that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our savior jesus christ lord jesus christ who said your apostles peace i leave you my peace i give you look not on our sins but on the faith of your church and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will who live and reign forever and ever amen amen the peace of the lord be with you always [Music] [Applause] [Music] is is [Music] foreign [Music] is behold the lamb of god behold him who takes away the sins of the world blessed are those called to the supper of the lamb lord i am not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be healed [Music] me [Music] [Applause] [Music] rules [Music] we are pretty [Music] me [Music] god [Applause] is us you let us pray graciously raise up o lord those who renew with this sacrament that we may come to possess your redemption both in mystery and in the manner of our life through christ our lord [Music] my friends yesterday i had the privilege of celebrating the wedding for two young people it was a beautiful and happy occasion but of course in this covert time with such severe restrictions they couldn't have most of their family or friends with them it really underlined for me not only the isolation and anxiety that many are feeling but the many other hardships that come with covert and with this time of restrictions and so as we continue to pray for and do our best to keep each other safe we're also conscious of the burdens of these times on each other and do our best to relieve those as well please continue to keep the forthcoming plenary council of australia in your prayers for wisdom and fidelity for all the members of that council the lord be with you r bless be the name of the lord [Music] our help is in the name of the lord [Music] may almighty god bless you the father and the son and the holy spirit [Music] is [Music] [Applause] [Music] um [Applause] [Music] so [Music] you

Channel: St Mary's Cathedral Sydney

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Length: 65min 35sec (3935 seconds)

Published: Sun Sep 19 2021