S. John Paul II Homil. 333


APOSTOLIC PILGRIMAGE TO INDIA

EUCHARISTIC CONCELEBRATION

AT «CAMPAL GROUNDS» OF GOA


Thursday, 6 February 1986

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

1. I am particularly pleased to be here in Goa, this historic centre from which Saint Francis Xavier and his companions proclaimed the Gospel. With affection in our Lord Jesus Christ, I greet the people of this local Church and all those who have come from the Dioceses of Karwar and Belgaum. Today we join our minds and hearts in prayer as we offer praise and worship to the Most Holy Trinity. We have come here to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, the summit and centre of the life of the Church, the memorial of the Cross and Resurrection of our Saviour, the Bread of Life and the Cup of eternal Salvation. At this Eucharist, we are directing our attention particularly to the mystery of the unity of the Church, to the Lord’s call to unity.

On the eve of his Passion, at the Last Supper with his disciples, Jesus prayed for unity among all who would believe in him. He said: " I do not pray for these only ", having in mind here the Apostles, "but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us" .

We unite ourselves with this prayer of Christ, the one Priest of the New and everlasting Covenant. Christ the Priest offers himself in sacrifice; he offers his Body and Blood, his life and death. And by this most sacred Sacrifice, he reconciles the world to himself, he dies on the Cross "to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad" . The words of Christ’s priestly prayer come from the very heart of this Sacrifice. His prayer and his sacrificial death are for the same purpose: "that they may all be one".

334 2. What unity does Christ mean? He means the unity that comes from Baptism. Saint Paul speaks of it in his Letter to the Galatians where he writes: "For as many of you as were baptised into Christ have put on Christ... for you are all one in Christ Jesus" .

Through Baptism we are immersed not only in water but primarily in the redeeming death of Christ. And just as Christ’s death was the beginning of his new life, revealed through the Resurrection, so also for us the sacramental immersion in the waters of Baptism is the beginning of a new life: life through grace, the same life that was revealed in the Resurrection of Christ. It is the life of Christ given to us by the Father in the Holy Spirit.

This life is one and unique. It is present in all those who receive Baptism. And therefore all the baptised make up a unity in Christ. Baptism signifies and brings about the fundamental vocation of all Christians to be one. At the same time it is a calling to union in the one Body of the Church through the power of the Holy Spirit.

3. The unity which binds Christians as one is the unity which is from God. The supreme model of this unity is the Blessed Trinity, the Communion of the Three Divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Thus, Jesus prayed at the Last Supper: "Even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in Us" .

All those who through the same faith and the same Baptism become children of God are called to this union. "In Christ Jesus you are all children of God, through faith" , says the Apostle Paul. So, being through faith children of God in him who is the only-begotten Son of the Father, we must be united in this supreme source of unity, of divine unity of the Son with the Father.

The Father and the Son have poured forth the Holy Spirit upon the Church. The Spirit dwells in the hearts of all the baptised, prompting them to pray with confidence and to call God: "Abba, Father". And, as the Second Vatican Council taught: "It is the Holy Spirit, dwelling in those who believe, pervading and ruling over the entire Church, who brings about that marvellous communion of the faithful and joins them together so intimately in Christ that he is the principle of the Church’s unity. By distributing various kinds of spiritual gifts and ministries , he enriches the Church of Jesus Christ with different functions “in order to perfect the saints for a work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ"” .

4. In the unity that comes from faith and Baptism, there is also contained a particular refection of the glory of God, the glory that the Father eternally gives to the Son, the glory that he gave to the Son on earth, particularly when he was lifted up on the Cross. The aspiration for unity, then, is permeated by the call to share in this glory. Thus Jesus prayed to the Father in these words: "The glory which you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one" .

And what glory did the Father give to the Son? The glory of humble service to others, the glory of doing the Father’s will in all things, the glory which culminated in his freely accepted death on the Cross, his Sacrifice for the Redemption of the whole world. This is the glory of Christ. This remains the path to glory for all the disciples of Christ. The best way to glorify God is to follow the example of Jesus who said: if any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" . Whoever glorifies God in this way will share in the unity of God and be one with him as the Father and Son are one.

5. Unity is a gift of the one God in Three Divine Persons. Where this gift is received in faith there are found the fruits of the Holy Spirit: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" . Moreover, God helps us to overcome divisions and to recover and achieve unity. He gives us the light of truth and the grace necessary for a change of heart. He frees us from ignorance, error and sin, from all that causes divisions within ourselves and in our relationships with others. The Holy Spirit is near to the heart and mind of those who pray to him. He offers us the fullness of communion with God himself and blesses us with reconciliation with our brothers and sisters.

Although unity is a gift which we human beings could never achieve on our own, nonetheless we have a duty to seek it and to work for it. It is an essential characteristic of the Church which is always "one, holy, Catholic and apostolic", as we profess in the Creed. But while the Church is one, there is disunity among Christians. And the task of restoring unity among all who believe in Christ becomes ever more urgent. The past and present divisions are a scandal to non-Christians, a glaring contradiction of the will of Christ, a serious obstacle to the Church’s efforts to proclaim the Gospel.

6. The work of ecumenism demands our constant efforts and fervent prayers. It begins with the recognition of that primary which already exists because of Baptism, a unity which truly binds the baptised to one another and gives them a common share in the life of the Most Holy Trinity, a unity that perpetually persists notwithstanding whatever differences or divisions have arisen. The words of Saint Paul remain forever true: "For as many of you as were baptised into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew not Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" .

335 But we must be eager to work for the fullness of unity among the followers of Christ, here in India and throughout the world. We rejoice to see the ecumenical progress which has already been achieved: the overcoming of longstanding prejudices, false judgements and disparaging expression; the great growth in reciprocal understanding and fraternal respect; the significant progress in dialogue and in collaboration in the service of humanity, and the increasing opportunities for common prayer which respects the different traditions. Let us continue on the path to full unity, looking forward in hope to the day when we shall be truly one just as the Father and Son are one.

7. In a certain sense, the unity of Christ’s disciples is a condition for fulfilling the mission of the Church; not only that, it is a condition for fulfilling the mission of Christ himself in the world. It is a condition for effectively proclaiming and consolidating faith in Christ. Thus Jesus prayed: "that they may all be one... so that the world may believe that you have sent me... that they may become perfectly one so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" .

The unity of Christians is vital for the proclamation of the Gospel. For evangelization depends on the convincing witness of the Christian community and not only on the words which are preached. How can non-believers come to believe in the love of God revealed in Christ if they do not "see how these Christians love one another"? Love cannot reveal itself or enter into hearts except through the testimony of unity. The very longing for unity and union constitutes the beginning of this testimony.

8. The gift of unity which the Church has received from God gives her a special responsibility in the human family: namely, to promote dialogue and understanding among all, to work for unity and peace in our divided world.

Conflicts and tensions abound today. Nations are divided between East and West, North and South, friend and enemy. And within the borders of every country, within the borders of India too, can be found opposing groups and factions, rivalries arising from prejudice and ideologies, from historical stereotypes and ethnic barriers and from a variety of other factors, none of which are worthy of our human dignity.

It is in this divided world that the Church is sent forth today to promote harmony and peace. In charity and truth she goes forth: in that charity which sees every person as a child of God, as a brother or sister of equal dignity, regardless of his or her social status, regardless of his or her race or religion; and in the truth which overcomes the slavery of falsehood and brings new freedom to mind and heart.

Above all, as Christians we must go forth with faith in the power of the Cross to overcome the threat of sin and to reconcile the world to God. As I stated in my 1986 World Day of Peace message, "Christians, enlightened by faith, know that the ultimate reason why the world is the scene of divisions, tensions, rivalries, blocs and unjust inequalities, instead of being a place of genuine fraternity, is sin, that is to say human moral disorder. But Christians also know that the grace of Christ, which can transform this human condition, is continually being offered to the world, since ‘where sin increased, grace abounded all the more ‘ ".

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: Jesus calls us to be one as he and the Father are one. In our union with Jesus and in the ecclesial communion of the Church, we find the strength and inspiration to overcome all barriers and divisions, and to forge new and closer bonds of unity: unity in families and in parishes, unity in local Churches and between rites, unity throughout the whole Church in India, in the communion of the universal Church and with the Bishop of Rome. The world awaits the ever more fervent witness of our faith and love. "Let all Christ’s faithful", in the words of the Second Vatican Council, " remember that the more purely they strive to live according to the Gospel, the more they are fostering and even practising Christian unity " . Let us, dearly beloved, be one in the unity of Christ Jesus and his Church. Amen.

APOSTOLIC PILGRIMAGE TO INDIA

LITURGY OF THE WORD AT THE AIRPORT OF MANGALORE


Thursday, 6 February 1986

Dear Brother Bishops,
Honourable Civil Authorities,
336 Brothers and Sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ
Dear Friends,

I am extremely happy to have this opportunity to visit your region during my pilgrimage through India, this vast and ancient country, so alive and so full of promise. I am grateful to all of you for your warm welcome. I acknowledge with particular appreciation the presence of all those who are engaged in the cultural, social and political life of this region.

I express my cordial esteem for the members of the various Christian Churches and ecclesial communities, and for all our Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist and Parsee friends. May we all be united in a sincere desire to serve the cause of peace and progress among all peoples without distinction or discrimination, since we share a common belief in God, our Creator and Father.

To the members of the Catholic community, to the pastors and faithful, to the priests and seminarians, to the men and women religious, to the catechists, and to all who share in the priestly, prophetic and royal office of Christ, to you I repeat the words of Saint Paul to the Philippians: "the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit" .

1. The reading from Saint Luke’s Gospel which we have just heard has presented for our contemplation the Visitation of Mary, "the handmaid of the Lord" , to her cousin Elizabeth. This very human encounter reveals not only the value and beauty of the love between the two cousins. Above all it introduces us into the mystery of the divine initiative which gives concrete expression to God’s unbounded love for man and opens the way to our eternal destiny: the Incarnation.

Having given her free consent to the realisation of God’s plan, Mary goes in haste to her cousin to help her in her time of need. Mary also wishes to share with her the Good News that the Lord was fulfilling the promise of salvation made to their forefathers and kept alive in Israel through the preaching of the Prophets and in the Scriptures.

Moved by the Spirit of God, Elizabeth recognises the presence of the long-awaited Messiah in the womb of her young cousin and greets her as "the Mother of my Lord". Her own unborn son too is touched by the saving presence of the Messiah. It is a presence which can be fully experienced only through faith, in the Spirit.

"Blessed is she who believed...".

This blessing belongs fully to Mary "who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord" . But it likewise embraces all those who follow Mary along the path of faith, for she is "the Church’s model and excellent exemplar in faith and charity" .

Today this blessing embraces us as we honour her. Our devotion testifies to the truth of her own words:

337 "My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold henceforth all generations will call me blessed,
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name" .

2. The Second Vatican Council has wished to present Mary’s special place in the history of salvation in relation to the mystery of Christ and to the mystery of Church. Because of her unique role in Christ’s life and work she has become the exemplar of the Church’s life and mission. What Mary has been to Jesus the Church is now called to be in the fulfilment of Christ’s saving work to the ends of the earth.

Like Mary bringing to Elizabeth the Good News of salvation and the presence of the Saviour himself, the Church exists down through the centuries to proclaim the Gospel message to all peoples and to offer them the light, life and love of Christ the Saviour.

For millennia India has been the cradle of great religions and of ancient civilisations. Christianity has lived side by side in harmony with these traditions for almost two thousand years. Nearly five centuries ago the Church sent heralds of the Gospel to this region of the vast Indian subcontinent. The purpose of the Church here in India as everywhere has been to proclaim the promise of life in Christ, in whom " all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross" .

The Church is dedicated to this work of reconciliation and service in the spirit of Jesus himself. As the prophet Isaiah foretold, Jesus was sent into the world "not to break a bruised reed, nor to quench a dimly burning wick", rather "as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations" .

During the past centuries and today, the Church carries on this work of the Son and servant of God in this region of India through the selfless service of innumerable men and women of faith and untiring love.

3. Having come to know in greater detail the work done by the Christian communities along this beautiful West Coast and in the whole of Karnataka, and indeed throughout India, I rejoice with the same sentiments of Mary: the Lord has done great things among his people! .

338 The fervent communities of faith and love that have sprung up all over this region; the educational institutions that have prepared so many young men and women for their responsible participation in the development of the country; the health centres that for over a century have been caring for the sick and the needy without exception or distinction; and the many other activities of the Christian community for the uplifting and development of the people of this region: all of this is a living testimony to the servant mission of Christ’s Church.

The Church is the pilgrim people of God travelling forward towards its goal, the eschatological Kingdom in the Father’s house. As the Church moves among and together with other communities and religious traditions, "she recognises in the poor and the suffering the likeness of her poor and suffering Founder" . She feels, therefore, especially called to defend and promote everywhere the inalienable dignity of every man, woman and child, in every nation, and of every social condition.

At the servant of Christ and of his Church, I thank the Lord for the works of faith and love which are carried out in his name among you. The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth may also be contemplated as an inspiration for your loving service to your fellow citizens. I wish to sustain your faith and encourage your commitment to an ever more generous service of your country.

I appeal to all the sons and daughters of the Church: be faithful witnesses of the Risen Lord, be the light that radiates the love of God among your fellow men and women.

4. To you, brother bishops, whom the Holy Spirit has appointed to guard the Church of Jesus Christ, I address the appeal of Saint Peter: "Tend the flock of God that is your charge... being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd is manifested, you will obtain the unfading crown of glory" . May you find in your communion with the Bishop of Rome and the universal Church great strength for all your pastoral service.

Beloved priests, beloved religious and lay apostles: you are very dear to me. In you I see the disciples of Jesus, the servant of God. You are his witnesses in the Church of today. You have been chosen by Christ and you have committed yourselves to be his instruments for the building up of his Body. Be worthy of your vocation and generous in fulfilling your mission. Be united with your bishops and fully dedicated to your people in selfless and persevering service. Be loyal to Christ and his Church, ever more authentic signs of his Kingdom.

5. Beloved fellow Christians present at this gathering, who openly confess Jesus Christ as God and Lord, sole mediator between God and man: together let us raise our hearts in praise to our heavenly Father. Let us thank him for that degree of unity already existing between us because of our baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The will of Christ impels us to continue to seek that fullness of communion and peace which alone responds to Christ’s prayer at the Last Supper: "That they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me" . May the ecumenical path that we have embraced lead us to ever greater fidelity to the Lord of our lives!

6. I am glad to see here many friends belonging to other religious persuasions. Your presence is an eloquent token of your fellowship with your Christian neighbours and, I am sure, it means that you recognise the need for all religious traditions to join hands against the forces which militate against the human and spiritual dignity of human beings. Living in a pluralistic world filled with tensions and conflicts, religious communities must be the first to live in peace and harmony with each other, in mutual acceptance and co-operation. May God’s blessings be upon all of you, upon your communities and families, upon your enterprises and commitments for the service of your country.

7. Upon the distinguished representatives of public life, I ask Almighty God to bestow wisdom and courage so that you may be effective "promoters of order and peace among men" . May you always work for the ideals of freedom, justice and peace, harmonising cultural, linguistic and religious diversities in the pursuit of social and economic progress, and of communal fellowship.

I have learnt with sorrow of the prevailing drought conditions in the State of Karnataka. Many areas have no water, and human beings as well as animals suffer from want of food and drink. My heart goes out in sympathy to all those who are suffering. I would ask the local churches in Karnataka to do their best in collaborating with the government and voluntary organisations to help in this time of need, thus showing once again their vocation of service to mankind. I pray the Lord to send abundant rain down upon the parched land of Karnataka, and make it give food to the hungry and drink to the thirsty, so that, being strengthened in body, they may all give glory to their heavenly Father.

I wish at this time to recall also the victims of the tragedies that accompany man’s efforts to make progress. In particular, I commend to the Lord the large number of people who lost their lives in Bhopal in December 1984. I also recall those who lived through the sad events there but have suffered greatly. I pray that they will experience the fullness of fraternal solidarity of which they have need.

339 8. To all of you: to the young who look to the future with great expectations; to the old, sick and suffering who turn to the Lord for solace and comfort; to the farmers and workers who transform the God-given riches of this region into means for sustenance and growth; to the families of the poor and the rich; and in particular to the thousands of emigrants from this region: to all of you I say a word of esteem and brotherly love.

Let us pray together for a world in which every individual will be treated as a child of the Living God! And let us all work together for a civilisation of peace and love, in which all human beings will be inspired by the great ideal of serving God and their fellow men!

APOSTOLIC PILGRIMAGE TO INDIA

MASS FOR THE FAITHFUL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL

DISTRICT OF THE «GRAN COCHIN»


Friday, 7 February 1986




There is "one God and Father of us all,
who is above all and through all and in all".

Beloved Brothers and Sisters,

1. My greetings to you in the love of Christ! I am very happy to come to this part of Kerala and see you. And as I set foot on your hospitable land, I wish, together with you, to give glory to this "one God" who is Father of us all. To this God to whom the earth and the whole universe belong. As the Psalm says:

"The Lord’s are the earth and all it holds;
the world and all those who dwell in it" .

And so, brothers and sisters, may our Eucharistic assembly become a single voice that gives glory to God, the Creator, the Father. Let us speak his glory in the name of all his creatures, for they all belong to him. Especially, let us speak his glory in the name of this land of yours and those who live in it.

2. You have assembled here from different parts of Kerala, the cradle of Christianity in India. This entire region, intersected by rivers, lakes and canals, fringed by palms, with beautiful hills covered with a rich and varied vegetation, offers the pilgrim a sight of graceful charm. Here, people of various religions have sought to live in unity and mutual help. Your composite culture and the rich traditions of family life have left their mark of spiritual vitality on the social and religious life of the region.

340 In this context we are gathered to celebrate the Most Holy Eucharist. Thus this place becomes a holy place of God; a place of his presence, of the Sacrifice of Christ:

"Who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart...
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob".

We are the generation of today who seek the face of the Living God. This quest gives direction to our whole earthly journey, our pilgrimage through life. The quest for the face of the Living God is the pilgrim path for the Church of Jesus Christ, built on the foundation of the Apostles. It is the path of the Church in Kerala.

3. Christianity in Kerala has continued down through the centuries in the community of the Saint Thomas Christians. It has grown strong through the activities of the sons and daughters of the Church who have contributed to her consolidation through their holiness and zeal. It is particularly indebted to Saint Francis Xavier who laboured in this area from 1542 to 1545. The Church in Kerala with her tradition of service in the educational, medical, social, developmental and charitable fields, gives a bright witness to the Gospel message.

Today the descendants of these apostles must ask themselves this question: In what condition is the faith that has been given to us? The members of the Churches and Christian communities present in Kerala have before them the example of Saint Thomas. Overcoming his difficulties he confessed his faith with the vibrant expression: "My Lord and my God ". It is our sacred task to proclaim this faith with one voice, together with the Apostle Thomas, and to build up that one Church desired by Christ in his priestly prayer: "that they may all be one".

4. In its deepest sense, the unity of the Church is a gift of the Father through Christ, "the source and centre of ecclesiastical communion" . It is Christ who shares with us his Spirit, and the Spirit "vivifies, unifies and moves the whole body".

This inner unity is wonderfully expressed in the words of the Apostle which have just been read to us: "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all".

Splendid, inspiring words!

341 In fact, these words proclaim the task of the Church in every age and in every generation. The Church’s sacred duty is to preserve this unity, which is none other than the fullness of fidelity to her Lord. And she must strive to restore this unity where it has been weakened or tarnished.

This fundamental unity in no way excludes legitimate variety. You are living witnesses to the variety of liturgical and spiritual traditions and of ecclesiastical discipline which form pattern of the Church’s presence in Kerala.

5. At this stage of my pilgrimage I wish to greet the bishops, priests, men and women religious, and the lay people of the local Churches represented here:

– the Archdiocese of Ernakulam and the Diocese of Kothamangalam of the Syro-Malabar rite;

– the Archdiocese of Verapoly, whose centenary is being celebrated this year, and the Dioceses of Cochin and Alleppey of the Latin rite.

I cordially greet also the members of the venerable Churches and Ecclesial Communities with whom the Catholic Church enjoys different degrees of ecclesial communion. May the Holy Spirit, the living principle of the Church’s unity , purify our hearts so that we may gladly recognise all that unites us.

6. The focal point of ecclesial unity is the person of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the "cornerstone" of God’s building which is the Church . He – the "cornerstone" of the new People of God, of the whole of redeemed humanity – is present in this Eucharistic community. He draws us to himself, and therefore to unity among ourselves.

Let us listen to the words of his priestly prayer at the Last Supper. He is speaking to the Father:

"O Father most holy, keep them in your name, which you have given to me, that they may be one, even as we are one".

Jesus pleads with the Father whose "name" he has made known to the disciples. Since he himself will no longer be "in the world" with them, he asks the Father to keep them united in the knowledge of the word which he has handed on to them. The object of his prayer is above all the unity of those whom he had chosen – the Apostles. But it extends to all his followers in every age. As he pleads with the Father he says: "I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one" .

Brothers and sisters, we are included in that prayer of Jesus: that they may all be one.

342 But he goes on to indicate the condition of that fundamental unity. In this prayer Jesus says: "For their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth". Unity is founded on truth, on the truth of the "word" which he has revealed, on the truth of the very Word of the Father which in fact he, the Saviour, is.

The truth of his Word is given to the Church through Christ and through the Apostles who were sent to baptise and to teach in his name: "As you have sent me into the world, so I send them into the world". Our unity is not for ourselves alone, it is directed to the entire world: so that the world may believe that the Father has sent his Son, for his eternal glory and for our salvation.

7. Our unity is the source of our joy and peace. Division, on the other hand, and discord, and especially hatred, are totally opposed to unity. They are evils, and ultimately they are linked to the evil one. In the same prayer Jesus asked the Father to preserve the disciples from the evil one. So, the priestly prayer that exalts the goodness of unity becomes at the same time a fervent plea that everything opposed to unity will be overcome. It is therefore a prayer for reconciliation.

For reconciliation in many forms:

– within man himself;

– between individuals;

– between Christians themselves (here we see the role of ecumenism);

– between Christians and non-Christians;

– between nations and states, and between developed and less developed areas of the globe (and this is peace – for "development is the new name of peace").

Reconciliation is a profound experience of the human spirit. In its highest form it is the loving Father stretching out his welcoming arms to the wayward son tempted to try to build a world for himself, out of the range of the Father’s influence. The emptiness of this choice, the loneliness, the accompanying loss of dignity – these inflict wounds which cry out for healing, for a return and rediscovery of the Father’s mercy: a reconciliation with God, within ourselves, between man and man, between the various Churches and Ecclesial Communities, starting with a profound transformation of heart.

Reconciliation has a social dimension too. It overcomes class feelings, regional rivalries. It abolishes forms of unjust discrimination. Above all, it upholds the unique dignity of every human being and works for the respect of human rights wherever they are threatened.

343 As citizens of India, a vast country with many languages, customs and religions, you certainly realise the essential importance of a true spirit of reconciliation and communal peace. This is the spirit that you find in the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.

8. In obedience to her Founder, the Church in India must be the servant of reconciliation:

– servant of the reconciliation of the whole created universe with God, our Creator and our destiny;

– servant of the reconciliation of individuals among themselves, helping them to overcome the divisions that wound the human heart, and helping them to tear down the barriers that keep people apart and lead to despair;

– servant of reconciliation in the world, in the face of ever increasing tensions which threaten the very survival of civilisation.

In this spirit we should understand the words spoken to us by the Apostle Paul: "I... beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace".

In the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace we are gathered in this assembly: the bishops of this region of Kerala, successors of the Apostles, with the successor of Peter; the priests, religious and laity. We acknowledge our baptismal unity with all our Christian brethren in the faith of Christ, and we proclaim our solidarity with our Hindu and Muslim brothers and sisters, and the followers of other religious traditions, whose presence expresses a shared determination to work for a world built on truth, justice and peace for all. We greet with respect the civil authorities and the representatives of all sectors of cultural and public life in this region, on whom we ask God’s blessings in their endeavours to serve the common good.

As a community in Christ we are assembled under the sign of unity and reconciliation which has its most intense expression in the Eucharistic celebration. Here Christ consecrates himself so that we may be consecrated in truth.

In the spirit of unity and reconciliation we lift up our hearts to the "one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all".

To him be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.



S. John Paul II Homil. 333