Homily for the Chrism Mass: March 29, 2007

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

Currently on the New York Times best seller list there is a book on atheism, the third in this last year, the first two arguing against the existence of God, this book promoting science as showing that God does not exist. In a similar vein an article appeared in the New York Times Magazine at the beginning of March which acknowledged that “we are born with an innate tendency for belief” but science must study the brain to find out why this is so, presumably to explain away any notion of the reality of the transcendent.

The Letter to the Hebrews warns us: “Take care, my brothers and sisters, lest any of you have an evil and unfaithful spirit and fall away from the living God.”

In our world where so much confidence is placed in scientific research – which only accepts what one can validate in a measurable way - one could waver in faith; in a world with heavy emphasis on self and indulgent pleasure and greed for personal gain, one could easily live as if God did not exist, possibly to the point of not even caring whether God exists.

While indeed science cannot establish that God does not exist, neither can the believer prove that God does exist. God’s existence is a matter of belief, not of science. However the believer can argue well to the reasonableness of God’s existence and to a reasonable understanding of our faith. Faith and reason do not contradict each other but are compatible and can be mutually supportive. The believer needs to speak in modern terms in the contemporary culture of what it means to believe and why one believes, and even more importantly to show by one’s actions that one is a believer.

The Church repeatedly prays in Psalm 95 the plea of God to us: “Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did in the wilderness, when at Meribah and Massah they challenged me and provoked me, although they had seen all my works.”

To be a Christian is to be a believer – to have faith in God and faith in God’s Son. Tonight when we bless the oil of catechumens which is used in anointing those to be baptized, we pray that they come to a deeper understanding of the Gospel. When the oil of chrism is consecrated we pray that God will pour out the gifts of the Holy Spirit on all our brothers and sisters who will be anointed with it. In baptism the chrism is a sign of life and salvation. In Confirmation the chrism is a sign of the Holy Spirit coming as Helper and Guide to witness to Christ in the world. In the sacrament of Orders the Bishop is anointed on the head with chrism to share in the high priesthood of Christ and the priest is anointed on the palms of his hand to sanctify the Christian people and to offer sacrifice to God. We are anointed by the Holy Spirit as believers. It is a matter of faith.

I must say, however, that I do not think that having faith in God has much impact on the secular world, neither on those who profess atheism, nor on those who live as if God did not exist. There are just too many people who speak words of faith without validation by actions in their daily lives.

I am convinced that the good works which flow from faith are what gives witness to Christ in today’s world. I am talking about integrity and honesty in the affairs of life. I am talking about generosity to those in need. I am talking about a respect for life. I am talking about an engagement in human affairs in light of the Gospel. Our own diocesan synod presents such a vision: Full, active, conscious participation in the mission and life of our Church. The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church from Vatican II describes this mission as being “sent out into the whole world as the light of the world and the salt of the earth.”

Tonight our priests renew their dedication to Christ for the well-being of the people. They have been anointed with chrism to be faithful ministers of Christ the High Priest as leaders for salvation. Several years ago the Synod Fathers meeting in Rome on the topic of the ordained priesthood wrote that the priest represents Christ the Head, Shepherd and Spouse of the Church and that the priest is placed not only in the Church but also in the forefront of the Church. The vocation of the priest is to serve the Church. The mission of Christ is entrusted to the whole Church, all the people of God, the Body of Christ. The responsibility of the priest is to imitate Christ, the head and shepherd of the Church, by a total commitment to serving the Church in union with all the people so as to carry out the mission entrusted by Christ to the Church.

Our Diocesan Synod has given noble expression to the mission of Christ in our own diocese: We, the catholic people of the Diocese of Stockton…. 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.

When we carry out this mission we not only give expression to our faith but we lead others to faith in God and in God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

Last Update March 30, 2007