Today, in New Zealand, we have a complex matrix of themes for the Mass. First, there is the Resurrection which we celebrate every Sunday but especially during Eastertide. Second, today is designated as Good Shepherd Sunday when we are mindful of promoting vocations to the priesthood and reminding ourselves of the servant leadership that it entails. In the civic calendar we have Anzac Day which is also designated by the church as a day of prayer. At one of my Masses I will also celebrate two baptisms of infants. Since the Eucharistic liturgy can be considered as a sacred drama these themes can be carried without too much difficulty. It is important, however, to keep all of them in there proper perspective. One of the ways in which I intend to do that is to pick up on the theme of self sacrifice. The primordial example of this is Christ offering himself up on the Cross out of love so that we may be reconciled to God. All other sacrifices: priesthood, death in war, handing on faith to children only make sense in the light of this great love. It is that love which brings about our salvation and all of our sacrifices are acts of gratitude and an identification with Christ who gave his life so powerfully and fruitfully for us: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love that this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you." (Jn 15: 12-14)
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