THE season of Advent, my dear people, is a time of waiting for Christ to come at Christmas.
“Waiting for God” is a central theme of scripture.
It happens both individually and collectively. Individually, in Abraham our father in faith, who waited to become the patriarch of a multitude of people.
Collectively, in Moses and the chosen people, waiting for freedom from slavery in Egypt, to be repeated again in the Babylonian exile as once again they waited for God to come.
There was an anticipation always that God would rescue his people from captivity and create a brand new world where justice, peace and freedom would flourish.
For thousands of years this dream remained merely a dream until the arrival of Jesus, born in a manger, living as a carpenter at Nazareth, and finally dying to establish a new creation, God’s Kingdom on earth.
All of us are invited into that Kingdom as it moves towards completion through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Each Advent we anticipate liturgically this coming of God in Jesus Christ, who conquered evil in its many disguises, allowing us to experience the sheer joy of living His vision here on earth, as well as enjoying its completion in the life still to come.
Not only do we as a Church prepare in Advent for the coming of Jesus but we ask God to enter our lives and transform them.
There are just so many Catholics who do not fully understand or fully experience the gift of faith they have been given. They may have some idea of life with God but not the transforming experience it is meant to be, otherwise their lives would be one great act of thanksgiving.
This year my dear people I want to comprehensively establish links with all those people who identify themselves as Catholic, including those who for various reasons may not have close contact with the Church.
Some of those people are alienated from the Church and if the Church is to blame I apologise.
The majority however are comfortable with the Church but overwhelmed by the sheer pace of life that makes it so difficult for them to regularly find time for God and prayer. They may have a vague idea of God’s love but are not inclined to respond unless they experience God’s love in its fullness.
One of the great tragedies of faith is that most people just don’t get the opportunity to hear the good news of Christ in all its grandeur.
For this to happen people who have understood the good news should be prepared to reach out to those who do not understand it as well.
As the letter of St Peter said, each one of us must be prepared “to explain the hope you have in you” (1 Peter 3/15).
I am delighted by those who worship regularly, delighted also by those people who claim identity with the Roman Catholic Church but who for various reasons don’t worship regularly. I want them to come closer to the Church because the Church needs them, and I want to find strategies to help that happen.
There are five strategies I would like to suggest.
- First of all, I want those who live at the heart of the Church to reach out to those people who live on the edges. To do so we must have a faith that attracts people. We can deepen our faith in many different ways but one way to do that is to participate in the faith-formation programs that exist in this Archdiocese. Make sure next year you join in at least one of these programs because life is just too short to have a less than adequate experience of what faith should mean for ourselves, and could mean for other people.
- In the second place I would like to make effective use of both secular and religious media to reach out to all Catholics and to use state of art technology whether in media or website to make contact with them, especially our young people.
- In the third place, no matter how effectively we use communication technology, personal contact is absolutely necessary if people are to be encouraged to participate more closely in the life of the Church, especially to participate in worship.
In today’s somewhat fragmented society personal contact is needed more than ever. Each parish should have a culture of hospitality that encourages parishioners to seek out people searching for faith, introduce them to their community, and then walk with them as they connect with the local parish.
I will write to parishes about this matter. I will also contact parishes to see if some parishes might be willing in 2008 to participate in a pilot scheme reaching out to parishioners who find it difficult to connect.
We just don’t realise what an enormous challenge it is for people who have drifted away from the Church to return, and all parishes should be aware of their anxiety, and be prepared to help them in every way possible.
I was delighted this year to hear of a parish that delegates parishioners to accompany each and every family wanting to have their children baptised, but who find establishing contact with the Church after a long time away the most difficult challenge possible. In such a situation a parishioner reaching out with his or her friendship, love, care and concern literally takes the place of Jesus.
Unless parishes can be personalized in this manner, they may never be able to attract people who deeply desire to know God more closely, but don’t know how to make a start.
- The Archdiocese already has hundreds of people praying for its evangelisation. In 2008 I will seek to increase this prayer campaign even more, so that those people who desire closer contact with the Archdiocese will feel the power of God’s Holy Spirit in their lives and be open to it.
- Finally I remind you once again of the World Youth Day that will take place in 2008. Judging from past experience the lives of many thousands of young and old people will be touched for the better by this event, and will be seeking to be more involved in the life of the Church. I would ask each and every parish to be open to that possibility.
In conclusion I ask all of you this season of Advent to realise that it is a season of waiting on God-in-Jesus to enter our lives more deeply. Let this not be another wasted opportunity for hearing the good news.
Once understood, heaven is not some distant goal that lies far beyond our personal horizon.
In Jesus Christ it can begin here on earth and continue into eternity, in company with our friends, relations and Church community.
Faith does not take us away from life but places us right there at its centre. Faith assists us to live life at a level and intensity we never before imagined possible.
Each year Christmas gives us a special opportunity to deepen it even further.
May God’s Holy Spirit enlighten our minds during this season of Advent so that in 2008 we will play our missionary role more effectively. If each and every Catholic could influence the life of only one person for the better in 2008 we will have achieved much.
May Mary, mother of Jesus, who followed and supported her son’s ministry in Palestine also inspire us by her example, as she walks beside us in the Archdiocese of Brisbane, and assists us by her prayers.
May God bless you all.
