Chrism Mass, March 29, 2007

Homily by Bishop John T. Steinbock

I. “The spirit of the Lord is upon me; therefore he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor; to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, release to prisoners.” This scripture passage was being fulfilled not only in the hearing of those in the day of the Lord, but is being fulfilled everyday through our very lives. The Spirit of the Lord is upon all of us, priests, deacons, religious and laity. We have all have all been anointed to proclaim this Good News of Jesus.

II. In a few minutes I, as the Bishop, will be blessing the holy oils that will be used in all the anointings in every parish throughout Diocese. Through this very ceremony each of you from the many parish communities represented here are reminded that we form a greater community. We form the Body of Christ, in this local church of the Diocese of Fresno. All of us, whether priest, deacon, religious or laity, through our anointing, have been called and consecrated, blest and sent forth to continue the life and mission of Jesus in and through our lives.

III. And we proclaim that Good News of Jesus, by our living out the command of love, first with one another in our families and in our parish communities, and then by bearing witness to God’s love within us, by reaching out especially to those who are most in need, those who are often neglected, forgotten, despised and condemned by the rest of society: the unborn, the elderly, the dying, the disabled, the migrant, the undocumented, the homeless, the imprisoned.

IV. As we bless these oils, let us give thanks to God for the presence of the Spirit that empowers us to act and love like Christ, giving of our lives in service to others, as Jesus has come to serve us. These oils speak of our dignity, of us being loved and freed from our sins by the blood of Jesus, sharing in the universal priesthood of Christ, called to live lives that give praise and glory to our heavenly Father. Let us also pray for all our priests who share in that sacramental priesthood of Christ. They have been ordained for service of you, God’s people. They have been called and anointed in the likeness of Christ to nourish the people entrusted to their care especially by the holy Word of God and the Body and Blood of Christ. Let us now all dedicate once again our lives to the Lord, who has loved us and washed us clean through his blood shed on that cross. +++