Homily
Moving to a new place is often ranked as one of the top five most stressful things in life.
Over the past few weeks many people have said to me not to be anxious or nervous about my move. Usually, however, they tell me that just before they share a long list of things that I should be anxious or nervous about!
Despite the nerves, however, I do feel enormously grateful to God for bringing me to this place, grateful for the warmth of the welcome I have already received, and grateful to all of you for being here today to support and pray for the Diocese of Derry, and for me, as we set out on this new journey together. I come to this diocese knowing that I have much to learn. So perhaps the best place for a new bishop to begin is not by talking too much, but by listening.
In recent weeks I have held two separate meetings here in Derry, one with the clergy, and one with lay people who are closely involved in the life of the diocese. One question I asked both groups during the meetings was “What would they consider to be the positive, life-giving, aspects of this diocese that have sustained, nourished and inspired them over the years?” I am delighted to say that their answers have encouraged me enormously.
According to the responses, the most positive aspect of our diocese was the continuing faith of the people. Both the clergy and the laity identified a spiritual depth in the local Church. The clergy repeatedly refer to the goodness, welcome and support of parishioners, and the laity spoke warmly of priests who are dedicated, available and involved in community life. It is evident that the Church here is experienced as a network of relationships rather than simply an institution. This suggests that one of the diocese’s greatest assets is the mutual affection and trust that still exists between many priests and their people.
I would like to expressly thank Bishop Donal McKeown for his pastoral care of the diocese which has ensured that such a culture of love and respect is flourishing amongst the faith community in Derry today.
Both the priests and lay people in their respective groups recognised a strong resilience in the face of difficulties. Church scandals and the changing patterns of practice are prominently mentioned, yet all speak of “pockets of hope” and a “strong foundation to build upon”. The common picture is that of a diocese whose spiritual life is sustained not only by formal liturgy but by a broad culture of popular prayer and devotion.
Of course, there is a realistic awareness of decline and change, but also a conviction that considerable spiritual resources remain, and that the Diocese of Derry possesses a recognisable ecclesial culture and identity that will endure.
Both the priests and the laity I listened to in the formal meetings and in casual encounters, valued inherited traditions but they also recognise the need for renewal, for new approaches that speak to people immersed in a modern culture so completely different from anything experienced before in history. Much of what emerged from these brief consultations are the foundations upon which a future pastoral strategy can realistically be built.
The Scriptures given to us today, on this 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, remind us of an essential element in any renewal of our Church – namely, to highlight God’s mercy in all that we say and do. Being merciful is never easy. In this increasingly polarised world, we are often quick to rush to judgement, and the dominance of social media gives some users multiple opportunities to condemn and castigate those with whom they disagree.
In the first reading Isaiah encourages the wicked man to “turn back to the Lord who will take pity on him, to our God who is rich in forgiving”. He then reminds us that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. The parable Jesus tells us in today’s gospel, ‘The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard’, helps us to understand something of what that means.
Most of us, when we hear this parable for the first time, naturally sympathise with the workers who have laboured all day in the sun. They worked hard for many hours while the others who arrived later, even as late as the last hour, got the same pay for doing a fraction of the work. Jesus’ purpose, however, in telling us this parable, is not to give us a lesson in employment law, but to bring us into a deeper understanding of God. We often expect God to act and to think like we do, but God’s love is greater than our understanding and His mercy is more generous than our often limited expectations. It is also important to note in the parable that the owner of the vineyard repeatedly goes back to the marketplace. He does not give up on those who are standing idlily by. The invitation to join him is repeated time and time again. So, every parish and diocese, every bishop, every priest, every religious community, every committed and faithful lay person must openly issue that same invitation. We cannot stay anymore within the safe confines of a Church building or in a particular holy huddle. We must leave our comfort zones and strive to help others to encounter Jesus Christ where they are at, so that they may enter into a deeper relationship with Him.
Certainly, that task, that mission, has become much more difficult in the modern world. We cannot ignore the realities we face today, but neither can we simply wish ourselves back to another time, no matter how idyllic we believe that time to have been. The Lord does not ask us to live yesterday’s mission, but to proclaim the gospel in the here and now. To proclaim it, not just to those who have arrived early in the vineyard, but also to those who wilfully and stubbornly stay outside the gate.
This is why the revival of synodality is such a great gift to our Church. It is sometimes misunderstood as just another programme, a succession of meetings or even a kind of ecclesiastical parliament. It is none of those things. At its core synodality helps us to appreciate that the Church does not belong to any individual or political ideology. The Church is the Body of Christ, it belongs to Him and we are part of it. Our task, therefore, is not to reshape His teaching according to our preferences, but to listen together to what the Holy Spirit is saying to us for the common good of all.
That means being willing, as Jesus was, to walk with and accompany people whose lives are sometimes complicated and messy. He sat at table with tax collectors and sinners. He was criticised for the company He kept by those who considered themselves righteous. Jesus always called people to conversion, but He did not wait for people to become perfect before He reached out to them. Often, through that encounter, their hearts and lives were radically changed.
A synodal Church is therefore a missionary Church. It forms people in their faith. It develops cooperation and co-responsibility between priests and people. It values the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given to every baptised person. Far from diminishing the ministry of priest and bishop, properly understood it strengthens their responsibility as pastors, teachers and guardians of the apostolic faith.
During the past week I attended a conference in Wels in Austria entitled ‘Shaping Synodality in Europe’. It was a meeting of 31 national Bishops’ Conferences from around Europe and approximately 180 people attended in total. The vast majority were lay people, predominantly women, who work along with the bishops in their respective countries in administration or to promote pastoral development and adult faith formation. In my discussion group, for instance, there was a lay woman who was the General Secretary of the German Bishops’ Conference, and another who was leading adult faith formation in England, as well as a lay man who was a pastoral care coordinator in Switzerland.
The topic of the conversation at the conference focused on the importance of baptism and how we must deepen our understanding of the gifts and vocation we all receive through this foundational sacrament. The Second Vatican Council helped move the Church away from viewing baptism as just simply the removal of original sin. It restored a more authentic vision of the laity, emphasising that every baptized person bears active responsibility for the Church’s mission.
If the Church in Ireland, and in Europe, is to thrive in the 21st Century, then formation in this understanding of baptism will need to be a priority. It is vital that every baptised person realises that they are sent as missionaries into a world that is thirsting for the new life and hope that only the gospel of Jesus Christ brings.
As your bishop, I look forward to working alongside you to welcome people into the vineyard of the Lord so that our parishes become places where His mercy can be encountered, where people are welcomed before they are judged and where those who have drifted away from the Church know that the door remains open. We pray that Jesus will give us the courage to keep saying “yes” to His invitation and the confidence to help others do the same.
So, today I place our Diocese, and myself, into the hands of our loving and merciful Lord, and I entrust our future to Him.
Our Lady, pray for us.
St Patrick pray for us.
Saint Eugene, pray for us.
Saint Columba, pray for us.