Abp. Aymond: God has opened a church in every home

If someone asks you to describe yourself, what word would you use? It would be something that is deep down in your heart. Jesus uses the word “anointed.” That’s who he is.
    

We just heard in the Gospel that Jesus goes to the synagogue and unrolls the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and picks this particular passage: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.” And then he says, “Today it is fulfilled in your hearing. I am the one whom the Scripture refers to.” He says to us, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. The Lord has anointed me.” 
    

Jesus says he is the anointed of God. He’s claimed by God and marked as the Son of God. He says the power of the Holy Spirit has come upon him and that that Spirit lives in him because he is anointed. He is anointed to go forth and bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the broken-hearted, to comfort those who mourn. 
    

As we hear these words, we are reminded that as Jesus says, “Those who follow me and wish to be my disciples are also the anointed of God.” He wants us to be anointed. 
    

Today at this Mass, we bless oils used by priests, deacons and bishops to anoint God’s people so that they can say: “I am anointed.”
    

The oil that we bless today and use throughout the entire archdiocese is an outward sign, but it points to what is taking place within the person – that the power of the Holy Spirit comes within them. They become the anointed of God. 
    

It is blessed oil that points to what is happening within a person’s heart and accomplished by the Spirit.
    

Today, we bless three oils. First, the oil of catechumens. This oil is used to anoint those who are preparing for the waters of baptism – those life-giving waters that claim them as a daughter or son of God.
    

Secondly, we will bless the oil of the sick. We ask that those who will be anointed with this oil, those who are ill, that God will give them the power of the Spirit and that God will give them strength and healing and comfort, hope and mercy.
    

Finally, we also consecrate and bless the chrism. The chrism is used, first of all, for confirmation. As the bishop confirms a person, he says, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” That chrism is the outward sign of what is happening within the person as they are sealed with the gifts of the Spirit, anointed by God with the Spirit and then sent forth  to live their faith. I think of all of those who have been confirmed this year or who will be confirmed. 
    

The chrism is also used for the ordination of a priest to anoint his hands in order that he may anoint others. It is God who does the anointing. He uses human hands – the human hands of the minister – but it is God who does the anointing. Something inside of us is changed. Our relationship with God is strengthened. Then we can say the same words as Jesus: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. The Lord has anointed me. I am the anointed of God.”
    

We also remember at this Mass and give thanks for the priests who serve in our archdiocese. It is customary that the Chrism Mass is usually celebrated on the Tuesday before Holy Thursday, and at that time priests renew their ordination. They will do so privately this year.
    

We remember that these men who are called to the vocation of the priesthood have had their hands anointed so that they can anoint others in the name of God.
    

My brother priests, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your ministry. Day after day, with openness of heart and with gentleness, you lead people in prayer. You preach and teach, you touch hearts, you heal hearts and you rejoice with those who are rejoicing.
    

My brothers, you do that day after day after day, and we are united in that action. I thank you on behalf of all the people of the archdiocese, and of course in my own name. I thank you for your ministry and for saying yes at ordination. 
    

Also, these are very challenging times. I must say that during these weeks of the virus, I have been inspired by you – how present you are to your people, the creative ways you have taken in order to invite people to liturgy, the liturgies of Holy Week, the liturgies of Sunday, the way in which you continue to be dedicated to your people and walk with them. Yes, social distancing cannot keep us away from our people  even though there is a social distance.
    

In the challenging times, you have truly gone beyond the call of duty in doing so much to invite people into the liturgy. They have not been in our churches, and yet our churches are full because spiritually so many of our people are there. Thank you, my brothers. I do not take it for granted. I am grateful for you.
    

The other day I saw a cartoon that said, “With COVID-19, all of your churches are closed.” And the other person in the cartoon said, “No, in contrary, we have opened a church in every home.”
    

Your home has become a place of prayer. It has become a holy place where you alone – or you with others – are able to meet God and to experience his love. Yes, you cannot receive Communion, and for that we are sorry. But you can make a Spiritual Communion, and you are one with us in this celebration. 
    

Our churches are not closed; we have opened a church in every home, and I am grateful to our priests for doing this.