28 May 2008

It is very hard for us to believe that we mean so much to the Lord, so much that he died for each one of us. But there is something even more difficult to believe, that every human being is equally dear to him. As we begin this Mass, we pray that our eyes and our hearts may be opened, and that we may learn to love as the Lord loves us.
For the time when we know that this has not been true, we ask for pardon.
Lord, you give us peace.
Lord, have mercy.
You nourish and care for us.
Christ, have mercy.
You guide us by your word.
Lord, have mercy.

Sermon

….anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many

What is the purpose of life? What is it all about? Why are we here?
If you look closely at our media and listen to what is being portrayed, if you look at what happens in our world, who gets on and who doesn’t, who is at the top of the heap and who is at the bottom – then it is all to do with money, power, position and possessions. We are bombarded by glitterati, celebrities, sports-icons, fashion-icons and pop-icons who epitomise this attitude. The more you have the better. The more you flaunt, it the more others envy you and the better you feel and the greater you look.
The moment you go to school you are put on the tread-mill of achievement – why? So that you can get as well qualified as possible so that you can get a good job, a career and make lots of money, and be happy and secure for the rest of your life. At least this is what we are all told and led to believe. But I have to tell you, it isn’t necessarily true. In fact, sometimes it seems to work the opposite way – the more some people have in terms of celebrity, money, possessions, power, status, the less happy they seem to be. I don’t think I have to go into it too deeply or illustrate it. If we have our eyes open, we witness it everyday on the TV and in the papers.
They did a survey a couple of years ago. They found a group of people who professed that they were genuinely happy in life and then tried to work out what it was that they had in common. In the end it boiled down to the fact that they did things for others. You know like voluntary work, serving other people and not getting paid for it. They then tried another experiment. They gathered a group of people who felt ill at ease with their lives, not very happy with their lot and suggested that they should try to do something which would benefit others and do it for nothing, voluntary work, if you like. Those who really engaged in doing some form of service said that they felt much better and much happier.

….anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

What about you? How do you feel today; how have you felt all week throwing yourselves into helping others and offering yourselves in service to anyone who asks, here in Lourdes on the Pilgrimage?
Just looking at you it seems to me as though you are really happy, full of joy: tired, yes, even exhausted, but happy, happy to the core. Why? Because you are responding to the Lord’s call, you are offering yourself in service. You are following the Lord as you have never followed him before.

For the Son of man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

So what is the purpose of life? What is it all about? Why are we here?
I think we have heard the answer to these questions in our readings today – from the first reading:

You have been obedient to the truth and purified your souls until you can love like brothers and sisters – in sincerity; let your love for each other be real and from the heart. (Peter 1. 22-23)

And from the Gospel:

You know that among the Pagans their so-called rulers lord it over them and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:41-45)

Don’t let anyone tell you lies, don’t let them fool you. Happiness does not lie in money, possessions, status. The truth is what we have just heard. In the end serving God and serving others will bring us complete and permanent happiness. You have already experienced something of this during week. Think about it and see.

God of servant, through the gospel you teach us a way of powerlessness in the passion and death of your son, Jesus. Baptise us into your way. Share with us the cup of Jesus. Form us into servants that one day we may share in your greatness in the kingdom where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.