Pastoral Letter from Bishop Brian Heenan at the Conclusion of The Year of The Eucharist |
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My dear people As we
It is of paramount importance that we meet Jesus in the celebration of the Eucharist
and equally important that we take Him with us, to our sisters and brothers everywhere. In the recent statement from the
Australian Bishops Conference issued for Social Justice Sunday, the Bishops said: “Our participation in the Eucharist transforms us, and in the rites of dismissal we resolve to be a new light in our communities and our world. We are marked again and again each Lord’s Day by what it means to gather in the Spirit, to fall under the Word, to offer the great thanksgiving sacrifice, and to enter into communion. We have had an experience of the light and been transformed into the light, a light for others”. The same statement highlighted the link between the Eucharist and our responsibility for those who are disadvantaged when it quotes St John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, in the late fourth century. He said: “Do you wish to honour the body of Christ? Do not ignore him when he is naked. Do not pay him homage in the temple clad in silk only then to neglect him outside where he suffers cold and nakedness. He who said: “This is my body” is the same One who said “You saw me hungry and you gave me no food”, and “Whatever you did to the least of my brothers, you did also for me…”What good is it if the Eucharistic table is overloaded with golden chalices, when he is dying of hunger? Start by satisfying his hunger and then with what is left you may adorn the altar as well“. May we move towards Christmas and the New Year with a resolution to enter more fully into the celebration of our weekly Eucharist. Let us see it as a meeting with Jesus where He both draws us to Himself and He sends us out in His name, to our sisters and brothers. May we gently invite those who are not drawing strength and inspiration from the Eucharist, to join us. It is all the more difficult in times filled with activities, entertainments, to make room for the Eucharist. Somehow, we have to show others that they are the ones to benefit, they can gain more from the Eucharist then they will ever be asked to give. One aspect of the Eucharist which is paramount is the future of the priesthood. The priests to celebrate Eucharist for our children and grandchildren are in our families, our schools and colleges, our tertiary institutes and among our mature aged men. As a Diocese, we must empower them, invite them and pray God’s graces upon them. This Sunday’s Gospel reading reminds us all that our love has a twofold focus – to love our God with everything we have and then to translate that love to family, friends, fellow parishioners and God’s people everywhere. It is a clear call from God. It presents a huge challenge to our generosity. Yet, God provides the means by giving us Jesus in every Eucharist. Jesus who walks out the door with us and says “Do not be afraid, I am with you”. We often describe the Eucharist as the “Mysterium Fidei”, the mystery of faith. We live in mysterious times, where we cannot understand the rapidly changing events around us. May we confidently live the mystery of daily life, by drawing strength from the Eucharist, our mystery of faith. Yours sincerely
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