Catholic Mass Today (27th Sunday) Plenary Council 03 Oct 21 Bishop Greg Homeming Lismore Australia

hello and welcome again to saint vincent's hospital in lismore today marks a very special day in the australian catholic church with the beginning of the plenary council and we respectfully acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which saint vincent's is built the widgetable viable people of the banjalang nation who have walked and cared for this land for thousands of years and whose descendants maintain their spiritual and cultural connections [Music] this mass comes to you from the chapel of saint vincent's hospital today's readers represent the board of directors and management of saint vincent's hospital our covert safe liturgy complies with instructions from the bishop of lismore and new south wales government directives all our music is in the public domain used under one license or our original works of the diocese of lismore if you have a prayer intention please visit our facebook page or contact us at [Music] here lismorediocese.org this place new light is streaming now is the darkness vanished away see in this place [Music] brought here to you in the light of the this and forsaken gather us in the blind and the lame call to us now and we shall awaken [Music] in the name of the father the son and holy spirit peace be with you and with your spirit you're probably wondering as you're watching this that i'm wearing red and so is my deacon and it's not pentecost sunday today the australian church begins with this mass the plenary council which will continue through until next year and this is a big event for the whole of australia and so today as we begin we call upon the holy spirit to be with us and today's mass is a mass of the holy spirit in the shore hope that if we ask the spirit to be amongst us and we open our hearts we place ourselves in the in god's hands and the spirit will work through this extraordinary event of the plenary council as we begin this journey let us all place ourselves in god's hands acknowledging that our only true way to god is through our failings and sinfulness because he comes to us in our need lord jesus you almighty god and prince of peace lord have mercy lord have mercy you were son of god and son of mary christ have mercy christ have mercy you are word made flesh and splendor of the father lord have mercy lord have mercy and may almighty god have mercy on us forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life amen glory to god in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will we praise you we bless you we adore you we glorify you we give you thanks for your great glory lord god heavenly king o god almighty father lord jesus christ only begotten son lord god lamb of god son of the father you take away the sins of the world have mercy on us you take away the sins of the world receive our prayer you are seated at the right hand of the father have mercy on us for you alone are the holy one you alone are the lord you alone are the most high jesus christ with the holy spirit the glory of god the father amen and let us pray o god who care for your peoples with gentleness and rule them in love endow with the spirit of wisdom those to whom you have handed on authority to govern that your people may be led to know the truth more fully and to grow in holiness according to your will through our lord jesus christ your son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the holy spirit one god for ever and ever amen a reading from the book of deuteronomy moses said to the people obey the voice of the lord your god keeping those commandments and laws of his that are written in the book of this law and you shall return to the lord your god with all your heart and soul for this law that i enjoin on you today is not beyond your strength or beyond your reach it is not in heaven so that you need to wonder who will go up to heaven for us and bring it down to us so that we may hear it and keep it nor is it beyond the seas so that you need to wonder who will cross the seas for us and bring it back to us so that we may hear it and keep it no the word is very near to you it is in your mouth and in your heart for your observance the word of the lord thanks be to god lord you have the words of everlasting life the lord you have the words of everlasting life the law of the lord is perfect it revives the soul the rule of the lord is to be trusted it gives wisdom to the simple lord you have the words of everlasting life the precepts of the lord are right they gladden the heart the command of the lord is clear it gives light to the eyes lord you have the words of everlasting life the fear of the lord is holy a binding forever the decrees of the lord are truth and all of them are just lord you have the words of everlasting life they are more to be desired than gold than the purest of gold and sweeter they than honey than honey from the comb lord you have the words of everlasting life a reading from the letter of saint paul to the philippians if our life in christ means anything to you if love can persuade it all or the spirit that we have in common or any tenderness and sympathy then be united in your convictions and united in your love with a common purpose and a common mind that is the one thing which would make me completely happy there must be no competition among you no conceit but everyone is to be self-effacing always consider the other person to be better than yourself so that nobody thinks of his own interests first but everybody thinks of other people's interests instead the word of the lord thanks be to god please stand to greet the gospel hallelujah hallelujah when the spirit of truth comes he will teach you all truth and bring to your mind all i have told you hallelujah alleluia the lord be with you a reading from the holy gospel according to john jesus said to his disciples if anyone loves me he will keep my word and my father will love him and he shall come to him and make our home with him those who do not love me do not keep my words and my word is not my own it is the word of the one who sent me i have said these things to you while still with you but the advocate the holy spirit whom the father will send in my name will teach you everything and remind you of all that i have said to you peace i bequest to you my own peace i give you a peace that the world cannot give this is my gift to you do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid you have heard me say i am going away and shall return and if you love me you would have been glad to know that i am going to the father for the father is greater than i i have told you this now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe the gospel of the lord prays to you lord jesus christ back in i think it was 1997. i spent a week a week it would have been about a week in with in the carmelite monastery of fathers in a place called ujji which is a famous tea growing area just outside of the old ancient capital of kyoto and i had the great privilege each day of speaking with a great man his name was father augustine okumura who was on for a time on paul the sixth commission for inter-religious dialogue a truly great and holy man and i can remember in one of our discussions he said to me you know things in the japanese tradition are neither good nor bad it's what you make of them you can make something bad or you can make something good it's your choice and some people have the habit of allowing things into their heart and making them bad and that destroys them others allow things into their heart and for them they're allowing something good in and it builds them up today's gospel jesus makes a promise to us i give you my peace a peace the world cannot give this is my gift to you do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid it's a wonderful thing to hear because as we hear it we in fact feel and experience the peace that jesus wants to give us because we all want peace because we've experienced turmoil within our hearts otherwise the peace which he speaks of will simply mean peace between nations but this is not what he means it's the peace which is the opposite of a troubled afraid heart and no one comes to adulthood without having experienced that inner turmoil that you can have within the heart and so the question that i would put to father okamura would would have been this then father what can i do to address the turmoil that we have within our hearts and his answer would have been very simple he would have said go and read saint john's gospel because this is precisely what jesus is saying to us because he's speaking to and into this radical human need before we go and see what answer he gives let's recognize the problem that we have if you allow disturbing things into your heart and live by that disturbance not only will you be disturbed but you will bring that disturbance to others not only would you be destroyed but sometimes that negativity that terrible plight of your heart can destroy you as well and this is the story at this time of cove at 19 of course people's hearts are so full of problematic things that we've got mental health issues all over the place and if only they could hear what we're going to look at now and if only this could be given to everyone then we would all have peace the way that jesus gives us to go forth is a very simple one if you love me you'll keep my word and my father will love you and we that's jesus and the father will come to you and we will make our home within you the interesting thing is implicit in that is what is your heart the home to it's what you allow in it and these things take up root within your heart and jesus answer is the way forward is let my word come into you in another passage he says and i think this must be in about john 8 i suppose it is make my word your home. the reverse of that is let my word find a home in you and that's the way that jesus is giving us to take the word to love it to carry it we can't establish a place within our hearts for god's word until we develop a familiarity until it finds until we find the pleasantness of the word of god so jesus says to us take my word take it into yourself carry it speak it to yourself live with that word and you will find that word will start to have a comfortable place in your heart not only will it have a comfortable place but you will live in that word and as that begins to happen rather than these disturbing terrifying thoughts that we allow into our hearts we will find that jesus and his father and their love will slowly take up their abode within us and when that happens we have the peace which he speaks of the question that i want to ask also is for every australian why do you think we're being given this as we begin the plenary council because the plenary council cannot be a place where we bring conflicting opinions and issues but it is the place where god speaks through each of us to the other and therefore this event must begin as a an event of profound listening each of us must seek not to speak but to listen to hear and to find god's spirit in everyone that speaks to find god present in the plenary council events to have the humility to stand back with the simple question where are you lord in the midst of this if we approach it with the agenda within our heart then you can be quite sure it's not coming from peace but if we gather in peace and we speak in peace and if that peace is the lord's gift to each of us we can have the confidence that in this gathering the spirit will be speaking amongst us i don't know what the spirit wants i'm not so silly as to know what the outcome of our count of our plenary council should be but i trust that if we listen deeply and if in listening we wait until what we've heard ripens within us and thinking and praying will lead to each person maybe not each but many of us being directed by the spirit to add something further to the discussion because i believe this is the way the spirit works this is the way god works so this is an exciting moment for our church in australia i don't know what will happen i don't have any expectation to have an expectation is to already say that i must be the holy spirit because i know what's happening my religious name in zakama it is gregory of the holy spirit and that name's taught me well enough i don't know well enough who the holy spirit is so pray for us as we embark on this extraordinary event for the church in australia everything happens in god's time if we are with god and at one with god nothing happens outside god's time so i don't know what will happen i don't know where it will go but i know that if we walk with humility with a profound desire to listen with the profound desire to die to myself in what i think i might begin to hear the spirit even talking within my own heart please pray for the church in australia let's now stand and profess our faith i believe in god the father almighty creator of heaven and earth and in jesus christ his only son our lord who was conceived by the holy spirit born of the virgin mary suffered under pontius pilate was crucified died and was buried he descended into hell on the third day he rose again from the dead he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of god the father almighty from there he will come to judge the living and the dead i believe in the holy spirit the holy catholic church the communion of saints the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body and life everlasting amen the spirit brings new life to the church let us be open to the prompting of the spirit as we pray for our needs and those of the church for the catholic church in australia as we begin the first assembly of the plenary council that the holy spirit may inflame the hearts and minds of all so that we may experience a new pentecost in this great south land of the holy spirit lord hear us lord hear our prayer for the plenary council members who are assembling around australia for the first assembly that their hearts and minds are opened to receive the holy spirit in all their conversations and prayer lord hear us lord hear our prayer for our nation that this journey of discernment and listening of the plenary council becomes a source of wisdom and courage as we move into the future lord hear us lord hear our prayer for those who are suffering that they will know the compassion and kindness of jesus by the outreach of all christians lord hear us lord hear our prayer for all those who have gone before us especially valerie stockdale anthony nutt santino pirlo fidel mindo umberto vieiro david calico and mary keough may their lived example as followers of jesus christ be an ever-present memory that fires our own commitment to the gospel message lord hear us lord hear our prayer let us continue in this time of pandemic to pray for those who have died of covert 19 for the rapid recovery of those who have contracted the virus for the strengthening of those who fight the virus for ourselves that we may have god's protection and do all we can do to prevent its transmission let us pray to the lord lord hear our prayer come holy spirit fill us with your loving presence make us strong and constant followers of jesus with the desire to live and proclaim the gospel message through christ our lord amen [Music] i am you who come to me shall not hunker you who believe in me shall not one can come to me unless [Music] the bread that i will give is my flesh [Music] you shall live forever [Music] you up [Music] pray brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to god the almighty father may the lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name for our good and for the good of all his holy church may the fire of the spirit o lord sanctify the sacrificial gifts offered in your sight just as it enkindle the hearts of the disciples of your son who lives and reigns forever and ever amen the lord be with you and with your spirit lift up your hearts we lift them up to the lord let us give thanks to the lord our god it is right and just 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 for you bestow gifts suited to every season and guide the governing of your church in wonderful ways by the power of the holy spirit you come unfailingly to her aid so that with the heart always subject to you she may never fail to seek your help in times of trouble nor cease to give you thanks in times of joy through christ our lord and so with all the angels and saints we praise you as without end we acclaim holy holy holy holy lord god of hosts heaven and earth are full of your glory hosanna in the highest blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord you are indeed holy o lord the fount of all holiness make holy therefore these gifts we pray by sending down your spirit upon them like the dewfall so that they may become for us the body and blood of our lord jesus christ at the time he was betrayed and entered willingly into his passion he took bread and giving thanks broke it 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 once more giving thanks he gave it 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 the mystery of faith we proclaim your death o lord and profess your resurrection until you come again therefore as we celebrate the memorial of his death and resurrection we offer you lord the bread of life and the chalice of salvation giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you humbly we pray that partaking of the body and blood of christ we may be gathered into one by the holy spirit remember lord your church spread throughout the world and bring her to the fullness of charity together with francis our pope me your unworthy servant and all the clergy remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection and all who have died in your mercy welcome them into the light of your face have mercy on us all we pray that with the blessed virgin mary mother of god blessed joseph her spouse the blessed apostles saint teresa saint john of the cross and all the saints who have pleased you throughout the ages we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life and may praise and glorify you through your son jesus christ through him and with him and in him oh god almighty father in the unity of the holy spirit all glory and honor is yours forever and ever 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 in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil 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 coming of our savior jesus christ for the kingdom the power and the glory are yours now and forever lord jesus christ who said to 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 for ever and ever amen the peace of the lord be with you always and with your spirit lamb of god you take away the sins of the world have mercy on us lamb of god you take away the sins of the world have mercy on us lamb of god you take away the sins of the world grant us peace 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] one bread one party [Music] and we though many [Music] this one [Music] and let us pray may these gifts we have consumed benefit our so lord that we may always be aflame with that same spirit whom you wondrously poured out on your apostles through christ our lord amen the lord be with you and with your spirit and bow your heads and pray for god's blessing may god the father of lights was pleased to enlighten the disciples minds by the outpouring of the spirit the paraclete grant you gladness by his blessing and make you always abound with the gifts of the same spirit amen may the wondrous flame that appeared above the disciples powerfully cleanse your hearts from every evil and pervade them with its purifying light amen amen and may god who has been pleased to unite many tongues in the profession of one faith give you perseverance in that same faith and by believing may you journey from hope to clear vision amen and may the blessing of almighty god father son and holy spirit come down upon you and remain with you always right has ended amended with the peace of christ thanks be to god [Music] ancient land of white and sunburned plains where feet have long since trod you have known the stories of as such to find the face of god god you hovered over darkness when the void was silent still then your voice rang out in splendor creation you your will and your eyes of love be held in light this land of sweeping plains now [Music] holy spirit gift of love divine with you we dare to dream so to walk in justice holidays this land of gold and greed from all nations we have gathered lead us on in unity in this fast and rocket homeland may you have to [Music] help us [Music] gracious love unfold holy spirit breathe your life in us your truth with open hearts we hear your call to follow you each day bring us all as one together understand [Music] give us joyful hearts in days to come all fear and dark cast out help us build in christ a world report injustice [Music] way back in the early 2000s the australian bishops had the sense that it was time for us to consider moving towards a national church event or celebration to plot our course into the future at a time when the future couldn't be just taken for granted there were decisions to be made after more than 10 years the bishops eventually decided to move towards what we call a plenary council it is time to hear god speak once again through the world and through each other we are facing many challenges in the church in australia at this time the calling of the plenary council is a sign of hope for us all and also i think a call to action at the heart of this plenary council is our conviction that the time is right for all of us to ask a fundamental question what do you think god is asking of us in australia at this time god can do so much more than we think is possible and together as an australian community of faith we can do great things so we are all going to need courage and humility and trust most of all we're going to need constantly to remind ourselves that what we are on about ultimately is discovering as best we can what god wants for the church and from the church which is to say what god wants for us and from us my hope for the plenary council is that everyone feels that they have something to share their story their faith their joys and their hopes and that together we might plan and build for the future of our church in our beloved country australia it's a gathering of the whole church in a real sense under the influence of the holy spirit to make decisions we need everyone on this journey we want you to speak with passion about your many experiences of faith life and church we will listen to god by listening to one another together we will uncover how the church will inspire australians for generations to come we have to make decisions about the future we have to make them together and we have to make them under the influence of the holy spirit so we're on a journey of discernment the whole church in australia trying to listen to the voice of the spirit to see what the spirit is saying to us about the future [Music] the voice that brings peace and sets hearts on fire [Music] together we will listen to what the spirit is saying your voice is important so come along be part of the story so let's not be afraid let's not be cynical let's not be bystanders let's do our praying do our reflecting do our speaking and discussing and do our listening and let's trust that god who has brought us to this point will bring our hopes and all our efforts to a conclusion which really does reflect what the spirit is saying to the church in australia at this time [Music] you

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Id: tckTpt0QsNI

Length: 40min 50sec (2450 seconds)

Published: Fri Oct 01 2021