CLOSING MASS OF THE 10TH WORLD YOUTH DAY
From a Homily given on 1995 by Pope John Paul II

Bethlehem signifies the beginning on earth of the mission which the Son received from the Father, the mission which is at the heart of our reflections during this 10th World Youth Day. In today’s liturgy we find a magnificent commentary on the theme of the World Youth Day: “As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.” Isaiah says, “For there is a child born for us, a son given to us: And dominion is laid on his shoulders” (9:5). That child came from the Father as the Prince of Peace, and his coming brought light into the world (cf. Jn. 1:5).

Dear brothers and sisters of the church in the Philippines, dear young people of the 10th World Youth Day: The deepest source of our joy is the fact that the Father sent the Son to save the world. The Son takes upon himself the weight of the sins of humanity, and in this way redeems us and guides us on the path that leads to union with the Most Blessed Trinity.

What does this mean? It means that we are ready to do our part in the Lord’s mission. Every Christian shares in the mission of Christ in a unique and personal way. Bishops, priests and deacons share in Christ’s mission through the ordained ministry. Men and women religious share in it through the spousal love manifested in the spirit of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience. The Christian laity share in Christ’s mission: the fathers and mothers of families, old people, young people and children.

On the 400th anniversary of its ecclesiastical independence and the setting up of its own hierarchical structure, the church in the Philippines is called to a profound renewal. The final document says, “All the lay faithful are called to heal and transform society, to prepare the temporal order for the final establishment of the kingdom of God” (No. 435).

Within this commitment of the whole people of God, what is the role of young people in continuing the Messianic mission of Christ? We have already meditated on this during the World Youth Day and especially last night at the vigil. I will add one specific challenge and appeal, which involves the healing of a source of immense frustration and suffering in many families all over the world.

How many young people think they are free because they have thrown off every restraint and every principle of responsibility? How many of them think that because certain forms of behavior are socially accepted they are therefore morally right? They abuse the beautiful gift of sexuality; they abuse drink and drugs, thinking that such behavior is all right because certain sectors of society tolerate it. Objective moral norms are abandoned under peer pressure and under the pervasive influence of trends and fashions publicized by the media. Millions of young people the world over are falling into subtle but real forms of moral slavery.

Build your lives on the one model that will not deceive you! I invite you to open the Gospel and discover that Jesus Christ wants to be your “friend” (cf. Jn. 15:14). He wants to be your “companion” at every stage on the road of life (cf. Lk. 24:13-35). He wants to be the “way,” your path through the anxieties, doubts, hopes and dreams of happiness (cf. Jn. 14:6).

He is your “resurrection,” your victory over sin and death, the fulfillment of your desire to live forever (cf. Jn. 11:25). Because of this he will be your “joy,” the “rock” on which your weakness will be turned into strength and optimism.

He is our salvation, our hope and happiness and peace. When Christ becomes all of this for you, the world and the church will have solid reasons for hope for the future. For on you will depend the third millennium, which sometimes appears as a marvelous new epoch for humanity but which also raises not a few fears and anxieties. I say this as one who has lived through a large portion of the 20th century, which is now coming to an end. In this century many sad and destructive things have happened, but at the same time we have experienced so many good things which sustain our hope and optimism.

The future depends on your maturity! The church looks to the future with confidence when she hears from your lips the same answer that Jesus gave Mary and Joseph when they found him in the temple: “Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?” (Lk. 2:49)

Dear young people: The 10th World Youth Day is coming to a close. It is time to commit yourselves more fully to following Christ in the fulfillment of his saving mission. Every form of the apostolate and every kind of service must have its source in Christ.

Dear young people of the Philippines, of Asia, of the Far East and of the entire world: Be a sign of hope for the church, for your countries and for all humanity! May your light spread out from Manila to the farthest comers of the world, like the “great light” which shone in the night at Bethlehem. Be sons and daughters of the light!

Dear people of God .. go forth in the power of the Holy Spirit to renew the face of the earth-your own world first, your families, your communities and the nation to which you belong and which you love; and the wider world ..

May God who began this work in you—400 years ago—bring it to completion in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ! (cf. Phil. 1:6). Amen.

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Christmas just started .. Lets Celebrate !

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on the Lord’s Birthday

Great is this day’s solemn feast of the Lord’s birth dearly beloved. But the short day requires me to shorten my sermon. What wonder if we make our word short, when God the Father has made his Word short. ‘From everlasting to everlasting’ says the prophet, you are God and see he has become an infant a day old.

Why was it necessary that the Lord of majesty so empty himself, so humble himself, so abbreviate himself. Was it not that you might do likewise ? Already he is crying out by his example what later he will proclaim by his words: ‘Learn from me for i am meek and humble of heart.

Consequently i beg and earnestly entreat you not to allow so precious a model to be shown you in vain but be conformed to it and renewed in the spirit of your minds. Be zealous for humility which is the foundation and guardian of the virtues. Pursue it for it alone can save your souls.

What are you afraid of human beings ? He comes not to judge but to save the earth. Do not flee. Do not fear. He is seeking not to punish but to save. He became a little child. The virgin mother wraps his tender limbs in swaddling clothes. Will you realize from this that he has not come to destroy but to save you not bind but to set you free.

Great are the works of the Lord says the prophet. ( Ps 111.110:2 ) Great are all his works. Three of his works proclaim his wonderful dealings with us: our primal creation, our present redemption and our future glorification. How each of this proclaims the greatness of your works o Lord!

Recognize your dignity O human being, recognize the glory of human constitution ! Along with the world you have a body. But you have something more sublime as well. Bound together and united within you are flesh and soul, one of them formed and the other ‘breathed in’. From the soul comes beauty, from the soul comes growth, from the soul clarity of vision and the sound of the voice. Divine love is what this union commends to me. Divine love is what i see written on the very page of my creation.

From the Sermons of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot

Fourth Week of Advent

Yes one is coming who will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea, who will heal all our ills, who will carry us back to the source of our original worth. Great is the might but more wonderful is the mercy in that the One who could help us willed to come to our assistance! Today Scripture says you shall know that the Lord will come.

Well then, I know how great is the tribulation you endure for Christ. If only your consolation through him may be great. To offer you worldly consolation I neither wish nor am I allowed. ( 2 Cor 1 5-6 ) Consolation of that kind is cheap and does no good and we must fear even more that it is a hindrance to true and salutary consolation. So then the One who is the delight and glory of the angels has himself become our salvation and consolation.

As we are about to celebrate the ineffable mystery of the Lord’s birth we are rightly bidden to be prepared in all holiness. The Holy of holies is present; Present is the one who said, Be holy for I the Lord your God am holy.

This is the right time then for perfect holiness to be pointed out to you – an inner washing is enjoined on us, a spiritual purifying is required. As the Lord says. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. For this we live to this have we been called, for this day has today dawned upon us. Once it was night when no one could work. It was night throughout the whole world before the rising of the true light before the birth of Christ. It was night for every single one of us before our conversion and inner rebirth.

Were not the deepest night and the thickest darkness upon the whole face of the earth when long ago our ancestors worshiped counterfeit gods? Those who sleep, sleep at night says the Apostle and those who are drunk are drunk at night. And this is how you once were but you have been awakened and you have been made holy ( 1 Cor 6:11 ) if indeed you are children of the light.

The herald of the day then is also the one who cries out, be sober, be vigilant. ( John 12:32 ) The night is far gone the day is near. Let us cast off the world of darkness and put on the armor of light !

Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this word which the Lord has brought to pass and revealed to us. It is the house of bread and it is good for us to be there. We live in Christ and Christ lives in us. He is drawing all things to himself , he who is over all, God Blessed forever. Amen.

St Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot
the Advent Sermons

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