(Isaiah 66:10-14c; Ps 66(65); Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12, 17-20)

 Theme: Overcoming the Pains and Worries of this World

            Today’s world, with its many divisions and tragedies,echoes the world of the Israelites in our first reading. The news is filled with stories of war, violence, heart-wrenching decisions, and misguided policies, making us feel powerless, while others believe that nothing can be done.

As children of God, we wonder when the Lord will renew ourfallen world; when peace, wellness, unity, and love will flow like an overflowing stream in our world, communities, and families, as prophesied by Prophet Isaiah in today’s first reading.

The Psalmist says, “Cry out with joy to God, all the earth. Render Him glorious praise, and say to God, ‘How wondrous your deeds’.” Some say in response, “Yes, we have been crying out to God for years now, but nothing has changed.”  Thus, some are opposed to bearing the marks of Christ, as St. Paul urges in today’s second reading, and the practice of faith has declined.

So, what is the way forward? Anger, tears, sadness, andrevenge are common reactions to our worries, but they do not lead to healing. In other words, happiness, healing, freedom, and success cannot be achieved or sustained when one isdriven by mundane principles of 'anything goes' or the belief that God does not exist. If we live as if God does not exist, Pope Benedict says, we will be enticed into error and flungfrom one extreme to another: from Marxism to liberalism, to libertinism; from collectivism to radical individualism; from atheism to a vague religious mysticism; from agnosticism to syncretism and so forth.

Thus, to avoid being tossed around like children of little faith, we must acknowledge that although it seems God isunconcerned about our worries and sufferings, vestigesof His creation and miraculous actions point to God, working amid human lambs and wolves, able to reactivate HisPaschal vengeance of love granted to those willingto become friends with God.

Friends of Christ, who become friends of God, are mature in faith, and they are convinced that the Lord’s redeeming grace is not cheap and does not trivialise evil, but it burns and transforms evil in suffering with love.  This love we must seek to have because it enables us to confess our sins and complete in our flesh what is lacking in Christ’s suffering.  This love opens us up to receive inner healing and to all that is good. The faith in this love empowers us to bear the fruits needed forovercoming the evil and pains of our world

(Cf Cardinal Ratzinger's homily before the conclave, Monday, 18 April 2005).