Dry Bones: UPDATED

While our three pilgrims were among the throng and in the cold at Barangaroo, we were up late in our warm houses either watching the opening Mass on TV or online. It may interest our pilgrims to know that actually several of us including a couple Aunties watched what you saw live.

Wearing fiery red vestments, Cardinal Pell and his brother bishops ascended to the altar of the Lord. They reminded me of tiny flames flickering in the twilight as dusk fell on the Barangaroo.

In his homily, Cardinal Pell began by calling on all lost sheep to come home. Then, this graduate of Oxford University in Church History, proceeded to put the first reading (Ez 37:1-14) into proper perspective by giving a historical background. The first reading from Ezekiel spoke of a plain of dry bones. While facing this depressing and hopeless scene, the Lord gives the Ezekiel an absurd task, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them: 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!'" No matter how much Ezekiel might have thought that speaking the truth to these bones was just a waste of time, a mere exercise in futility, Ezekiel nevertheless did as he was instructed.

And like many times in which we follow God's will, our Lord makes amazing things happen: "...as I was prophesying I heard a noise; it was a rattling as the bones came together, bone joining bone. I saw the sinews and the flesh come upon them, and the skin cover them, but there was no spirit in them. Then he said to me: Prophesy to the spirit, prophesy, son of man, and say to the spirit: Thus says the Lord GOD: From the four winds come, O spirit, and breathe into these slain that they may come to life. I prophesied as he told me, and the spirit came into them; they came alive and stood upright, a vast army."

How many of our friends, relatives, fellow parishoners, and even total strangers are thirsting like dry bones to hear the Word of God? How often do we think that these people are hopeless, that they will never love God as you have come to love Him? See the faith of Ezekiel, and see the power of God, the Holy Spirit who can change a field of bones into a vast army.

Cardinal Pell urged us "to allow the God of surprises to work through us" for God didn't just bring the bones to life with a snap of his fingers (although He certainly could have--He's got some mighty fingers!). In order to call forth such an army, Ezekiel had to cooperate with God who had told him to "prophesy". Cardinal Pell wants us--the youth--to cooperate with God, that is to serve our brothers and sisters when, where, and how He calls us to. But in order for us to do this, His Eminence prompted us to "pray for an openness of heart, a willingness to take the next step...trust is the key. God will not fail us!"

The Cardinal knows that this is extremely difficult since there are many things preventing us from "taking the next step". We are faced with many different and often competing values and voices trying to influence our lives. Thus, we may be tempted not to hurt or offend anyone by refusing to make decisions that would be unpopular with this group or that group. However, the Archbishop of Sydney told us that "life forces us to choose" making neutrality an impossibility. "Don't spend your life sitting on the fence," he said, "only with commitment comes fulfillment."

Jesus urges us to choose Him as He chose us on the cross. The cross urges us to choose, for His blood which was spilled on it speaks more eloquently that the words of Aaron. We must daily choose to live, to truly live. And this means choosing sacrifice, choosing the narrow road, choosing the unpopular position, choosing to speak out when others would silence your voices, choosing to love unreservedly. Choose Christ as did Peter and Andrew when He invited them to "Come, follow me." Listen to His voice speaking to you; then you will be able to speak to others the "language of the cross" which Cardinal Pell said is "written on our hearts".

Following the distribution of Holy Communion, a Cardinal from the Vatican Congregation who oversees World Youth Day address our three pilgrims and the thousands gathered at Barangaroo. In a particularly touching moment, he told the young pilgrims that they had brought "springtime to this Australian winter".

Now, besides the wonderful homily of Cardinal Pell and of course the Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, what most struck me--liturgically speaking--is the use of Latin. I think I first noticed it during the Pater Noster (Our Father) which was preceded the Kyrie ("Lord Have Mercy" technically in Greek), Gloria, Sanctus (Holy Holy Holy) which all had Latin/Greek elements. So, despite the fact that no one spoke Latin as his or her native tongue, it was nevertheless a great unifier...I would argue even more so than English. A teen from Papua New Guinea, a young adult from Ireland, and a religious sister from Nigeria all could pray the Pater Noster together. I think that's one of the beauties of a liturgy which incorporates Latin: you can go anywhere in the world and be able to pray along with everyone else. For example, when we attended Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris as part of our WYD 2005 pilgrimage, I didn't have a clue how to say the responses during the Mass in French, but prior to Mass, during Lauds (Morning Prayer), I joined right in with the Glory be (Gloria Patri, et Filii, et Spiritui Sancto...). It truly exemplified the universality of the Universal Church when literally in one voice we could Glorify our Triune God.

Be on the look out for an update to this post later on today.

* * * AND HERE IT IS * * *

You can watch the opening Mass by going here (although, I don't know for how long it's going to be up).

If you want to follow along, go here to view the liturgy guide (at the bottom of the page) and Cardinal Pell's homily.


Also, I look forward to a much better description and reflection from our three pilgrims who could share what it was like "in the trenches" as it were.

So, tune in for straight, on-the-ground reporting live from Sydney with Angela, Edmund, and Raj.

As for me...this armchair pilgrim is off to bed!