Pope Francis spurs us all to self-evaluation

    In his homily to an overflowing congregation for the annual Chrism Mass March 26 at St. Louis Cathedral, Archbishop Gregory Aymond spoke about the call that all Catholics have by virtue of their baptism to spread God’s love. He also reflected on the call to spiritual poverty proclaimed by Pope Francis. Here are excerpts from his homily:

    In the Gospel we just heard (Luke 4:16-21), Jesus refers to himself as the anointed one of God. Jesus enters the synagogue, unrolls the scroll and finds the reading from Isaiah the prophet. He not only proclaims those words, but he also applies those words to himself and to his ministry as the Son of God.
    And he said, “The spirit of the Lord is upon me. The Lord has anointed me. And I am sent to bring good news to the poor, liberty to the captive, recovery of sight to the blind and to set the oppressed free.”
    Jesus is the anointed one of God. Through our baptism and confirmation, we, too, are the anointed of God. We are sent as the disciples, the sisters and brothers of the Lord Jesus, to others, especially to the poor, the blind and those in captivity.
    Pope Francis, our new Holy Father, spoke such words to us recently when he recalled the voting during the conclave in the Sistine Chapel. As the votes were being counted and it became apparent that he would reach the two-thirds majority needed for election, his friend – a cardinal sitting next to him – looked at him and said, “Don’t forget the poor.”
    Those words influenced him in taking the name Francis, because he felt it was his ministry and the church’s ministry to be in solidarity with the poor. Then, three days after his election, Pope Francis said this: “Oh, how I wish for a church that is poor and that is for the poor.”
    With those words, Pope Francis calls us as a church and as the anointed of God to be poor. He’s calling us to greater simplicity and humility, both individually and as the church. He wants us to become more simple and humble so that we will then have bigger hearts to reach out to the poor. We are called as the anointed to bring Good News to the poor, to care about those living under the interstate, to look for street people, to care for the hungry in our soup kitchens and parish food banks.
    We are called to bring freedom to those who have been held captive, to those who are not free because of addictions or because they are involved in gangs. We are called to care for those who are oppressed because of violence, racism or revenge. We are called to care for those who are shunned because of disabilities. We are called to respect human life whenever and wherever it is threatened – whether it be the unborn child, the terminally ill, the AIDS patient or the prisoner on death row.
    As the anointed, we care for these people not just because it is a nice thing to do or because it is politically correct. We are the anointed of the Lord Jesus, and we walk in his footsteps. We carry on his mission in our daily lives.
    Today we are here to renew our commitment to the Lord. I recognize and thank the young church that is here in such great numbers. You are an inspiration to so many of us.
    In the last two weeks of watching and reading about our new Holy Father, I have been challenged personally to ask deeper and tougher questions about my life as a disciple of Jesus and about my ministry as a priest and a bishop, and about my priorities. His example and his words have challenged me to embrace greater simplicity and greater humility and to be more available to serve others. He has humbled me by his example.
    Today, we not only gather to bless the oil that will anoint others. We also give thanks to God for those whom God uses to anoint us –  our priests. The holy oils used in the sacramental life of the church make God present, and the priest calls down the Holy Spirit to anoint the people of God and send them forth as strong, bold and courageous witnesses of faith.
    These men will recommit themselves to priestly ministry and to the promises they made at their ordination. You will hear them say they are willing to be more closely conformed to Christ and to seek not personal gain or notice, but to serve God’s people faithfully by preaching and shepherding the people and celebrating the sacraments.
    My brother priests, the people of God in our archdiocese thank you and pray for you. And so do I. It is my humble privilege to minister with you. You are indeed my closest collaborators in ministry, and I thank you for that. It is my privilege as bishop to serve you and support you in your ministry.
    You make Christ present day after day, in parishes, schools, hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, youth groups and other specialized ministries. Please know that I do not take your ministry for granted. I thank you and I thank God for calling you to priesthood. I thank you for saying “yes,” first on the day of your ordination and then every day, whether it is convenient or inconvenient. You have said “yes” when you’re energized and when you’re tired. You have said “yes” when you are confident and when you wonder, “What am I supposed to do, and how do I say it?”
    We are grateful for our vocation to priesthood because it was God who planted the seed in us. With humility for all our shortcomings, we renew at this Mass our own “yes” to God.
    My brother priests, may the example of Pope Francis challenge you and me to fulfill that “yes” every day. May we, the priests of the church, form a church that is poor, humble and simple – a church that is for the poor.
    Questions for Archbishop Aymond may be sent to clarionherald@clarionherald.org.