My dearest friends, may the good Lord give you his peace. We gather at Mass today to give praise and thanks to Almighty God for all his blessings and graces, knowing that he continues to be with us, sustaining us in the mission he has entrusted to the Church, the visible sign of his presence in the world.
Today is a very special day in that the Cardinals who have been summoned to Rome from all of their respective countries, and who have been deliberating and reflecting for all the days from Pope Francis’ death to this day, on the Church’s vision moving forward, will finally lock themselves into the Sistine chapel for the conclave, which again is the very meaning of the word. Although the faithful are scattered in every part of planet earth, it is here in Rome, that the select 183 Cardinals have gathered – a tiny confined space in which the process of selecting the next Successor to Peter, the world’s most influential and moral leader of the largest faith known to humankind, will commence.
It is so providential therefore, that we see in the first reading, that although all the followers of Christ who were being severely persecuted “were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria” the Apostles remained in one place. Again, the bishops, the Cardinals are the successors of the Apostles, gathered in one place so as to pray and strategize as to how to continue ministering to the dispersed faithful.
The reading speaks of severe persecution. In all truth, it does often feel like we are continually being persecuted for our faith in this world. Standing up for what is right and holy, and defending the holy Name of Jesus, is met with great hostility and a lot of times even punitive measures by an over-reaching and secular government. Yet even worse than this, is when persecution comes from within the Church itself. Hence the Cardinals are being called to bring healing to a scandalized and heavily divided Body of Christ by first of all uniting themselves. Satan – has many a leader moving to his wiles and whims and this, sadly, also includes spiritual leaders. Yet, God is with us. God continues to remain with his Church so that the gates of hell will never prevail against it.
In the Gospel today, Jesus reminds us of where our heart and mind ought to be… the things of above. Nothing in this world can compare to the greatest good that God wishes for us – eternal beatitude with him, our Blessed Mother, our loved ones, and all his angels and saints. But we must strive and we must believe.
Our Lord speaks of how the Father sent him into the world out of great love to be its bread, its food, its sustenance and salvation. He said to the crowds therefore, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst… For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day." Look at how our Lord’s promise is steeped in the world yet to be revealed! This, our belief in Christ therefore, becomes the most important thing in our lives and it has no parallel. It will inspire our very way of living and the decisions we make which will last a life time and have eternal repercussions.
Believing in Christ entails living in Christ. We cannot believe in him and continue to do evil. We cannot say we love him while persisting in sin. Therefore my brothers and sisters, in this moment of beautiful renewal and hope in our Church, as the Cardinals deliberate our next shepherd and “Servant of Servants” let us beseech the Lord to grant us the guidance we need so that continuing to enrich and strenghten our faith, we may one day truly say as we stand before our Lord, “I have believed in you and I truly love you. Have mercy on me, Lord, a sinner.” Our Lady, Mother of the Church, pray for us who have recourse to Thee. Amen.
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