Homily for the Synod Closing: September 22, 2006

Given by the Most Reverend Stephen E. Blaire at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton.

Encontramos el significado del Sinodo en las ultimas palabras de Jesus en el Evangelio de San Mateo.

In the celebration of the Synod, like the eleven disciples, we have been to the mountain where we have experienced the presence of God and have listened to God’s Word. You gathered as representatives of the Church in the diocese of Stockton around your bishop, together as one people baptized into Christ Jesus. We have prayed together; we have reflected on how to live the gospel in the world of today; and tonight I will solemnly proclaim the Strategic Pastoral Goals that we have established as the direction for pastoral planning in our diocese, in our parishes and in all our institutions. There is a great enthusiasm for the vision to engage our people more fully and more extensively in the life and mission of the church – to carry on the work of Christ in 2006, 2007, 2008 and throughout our future in this ever growing and developing diocese.

Para los que tienen dudas, es importante recordar que participamos en el trabajo de Jesus y que solo Dios crea/logra resultados.

But some have doubts. They question whether anything will really change for the better in the life of the Church. If they think the Synod will bring about the glory of the final coming of Christ in Stockton before the Parousia at the end of time, then the doubters are on target. All that I can say tonight is that we are disciples faithful to the mission entrusted by Christ to us. It is not a human mission but a divine command. It is God’s work. We are only stewards of the mysteries of God, humble, sinful, fragile but good hearted people. We sow the seeds but God gives the growth. We may fail often, but God will be victorious.

Es necesario ser fieles a Cristo y perseverar.

Listen to the words in Matthew’s final chapter: GO, THEREFORE, AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS….TEACHING THEM TO OBEY EVERYTHING I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. This is the great commission to which we must be faithful and persevere. FIDELITY AND PERSEVERENCE. The kingdom of God will grow but we will only see the full grown shrub on the last days. We have extraordinary confidence because Jesus said: I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE END OF THE AGE. His final instruction to the disciples was to remember His enduring presence. The Church must never forget that Jesus is with her. We are His Church. We are His living body. Listen to our mission statement:

We, the Catholic people of the Diocese of Stockton,
Transformed by Jesus Christ through baptism;
Empowered by the Holy Spirit;
Nourished by the Eucharist;
Faithful to the mission of Christ;
Commit ourselves to be
God’s heart of mercy and love;
God’s voice of hope and truth;
God’s hands of justice and healing
To all people.

Nosotros, el pueblo Catolico de la Diocesis de Stockton,
Transformados por Cristo Jesus a traves del Bautismo;
Con el poder del Espiritu Santo;
Alimentados por la Eucaristia;
Fieles a la mision de Cristo;
Nos comprometemos a ser
El corazon piadoso y amoroso de Dios,
Su voz de esperanza y verdad,
Sus manos de justicia y sanacion
Para toda la gente.

After the homily in the Prayer of the Faithful we will officially proclaim the Pastoral Goals of the Diocese and I will sign the decree. These goals will provide the framework for carrying out the threefold mission of the church as found in the gospel, and which Pope Benedict elucidated so well in his Encyclical: GOD IS LOVE. We express our deepest nature as a church, the Pope teaches, when we proclaim the Word of God ( may I add that we do this not only in our teaching but in how we live); when we celebrate the sacraments (and may I add that our whole lives are a sacramental worship of God); and when we exercise the ministry of charity (and may I say that this love is wed to the pursuit of a just social order).

Las metas pastorales del Sinodo ofrecen una direccion para que la Diocesis y las parroquias cumplan la mision de la iglesia: predicar el evangelio, celebrar los sacramentos y practicar la caridad.

Can we go beyond our doubts? Yes, of course, because Christ is ever with us. He is the precious corner stone of the Church. We are the living stones of a spiritual house. May the Holy Spirit make us sturdy stones, ever faithful to Jesus Christ and the gospel, filled with the grace to persevere day by day in spite of all the distractions and obstacles we face. Mary, the patron of our diocese and of the Synod, is our model of fidelity and perseverance.

Queremos con Maria la Madre de Dios ser fieles a Jesucristo y perseverar cumpliendo la mision de la iglesis.

TODO PODER SE ME HA DADO EN EL CIELO Y EN LA TIERRA. GO, THEREFORE, AND MAKE DISCIPLESW OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. AND BEHOLD! YO ESTOY CON USTEDES TODOS LOS DIAS HASTA QUE SE TERMINE ESTE MUNDO.

Last Update September 24, 2006