March 29, 2024
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CHRISM MASS FOR 2022: HOMILY BY BISHOP EMMANUEL ADETOYESE BADEJO, BISHOP OF OYO DIOCESE, APRIL 12, 2022

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF OYO: CATHEDRAL OF THE ASSUMPTION, ASOGO, OYO
CHRISM MASS FOR 2022: HOMILY BY BISHOP EMMANUEL ADETOYESE BADEJO, BISHOP OF OYO DIOCESE, APRIL 12, 2022

Chrism Mass: I Will Sing Forever of Your Love, Lord.

My Lord Bishop, the Vicar General, Very Rev Fr Francis Oladiipo, Very Rev Monsignors, Rev Frs. and Sisters, our fathers, mothers, youth and my beloved children of God, in the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, I heartily welcome you all to the Chrism Mass for the year 2022 in which God gathers us together again to celebrate the Priesthood of Jesus Christ, communicated through his priests and the graces which he has given to us for our rebirth in the spirit, for our growth and our salvation. In spite of our problems and challenges we can say that God has been good to us his people. O se Oluwa mo dupe jojo oore re po lori mi o seun. And to us his priests whom he chose, though unworthy we are God has remained committed and will never change his mind. “The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change… you are a priest forever…” (Ps. 110:4). That is why the Church makes us return annually to renew our vows so that we may be refreshed by God’s spirit. “Bose a ko ye fun ife nla re, a sako kuro lodo re po ju….” In realization we are here today to make our recommitment and say “Oh Lord I am not worthy that you should come to me…” We give all glory to him.

The Sacred Chrism
At this Chrism Mass as we do annually, we pray together over the instruments of our ministry. The term “chrism” is taken from the Greek chrisma which referred to a material used for anointing. This is also the meaning of the name “Christ”, given to Jesus which means the “anointed one.” In the early Church, the oil used for anointing during initiation came to be referred to as Chrism. As the Church grew in numbers, bishops found it necessary to delegate to priests the authority to baptize the faithful and so they began to consecrate Chrism for use by presbyters in the initiation of new Christians.

Today, Chrism is a sacred oil made from olive oil and perfumed with balsam, and is consecrated only by the bishop. The use of the Sacred Chrism is an expression of unity of the local Church around her bishop. It’s not the same as oil blessed simply by the initiative of any powerful, intelligent, rich or gifted pastor, visionary or healer… it is divinely processed.

Sacred Chrism is used in baptism, confirmation, the ordination of priests and bishops, as well as in the dedication of an altar and a church. Such use even predates the Roman Catholic Church as seen with very relevant prescriptions in Exodus 30: 22-33. The Chrism, the Oil of Catechumens and the Oil of the Sick which are also blessed during this Mass are all oils of healing for they all sanctify and strengthen us in the faith. They set free from bondage, break curses and defeat evil and darkness. That is why priests from throughout the diocese gather to receive the holy oils they will use throughout the year in the presence of you God’s people It powerfully reminds us that we are God’s family, together on a mission.

This Chrism Mass commemorates the anniversary of Christ’s institution of the ministerial priesthood at the Last Supper. That is why today the priests renew the promises they made at their ordination; promises to conform their lives more closely to Christ, to be faithful stewards of the Eucharist and other liturgical rites and to be faithful teachers of the faith. The priests therefore participate at this Mass as witnesses and as collaborators in the work of Jesus Christ. Big Commitment!

In the midst of His People
You the faithful on the other hand come to reconfirm your identity as the body of Christ, his people on pilgrimage to him in heaven. You are those to whom St Peter tenderly referred to in those beautiful words saying: “But you are a chosen race, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, a people to be a personal possession to sing the praises of God who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were a non-people and now you are the people of God; once you were outside his pity; now you have received pity” (1Pet 2 9-10). It is in recognition of that grace of that pity received gather with us. You are then asked to pray for your priests and together pray for your bishop that he may be a more perfect image of Christ, the Good Shepherd, Teacher, and Servant. May God mercifully hear our prayers. So, my dear people of God we thank for your prayers which we need so desperately so that we can carry out the authentic ministry of Jesus Christ.

The Healing Ministry
My dear Reverend Fathers, thank you for the work you are doing. God is surely honoured when you give yourself fully to his ministry with your time treasure and talent. We live in a time of great trials today but the world has always lived through great trials since the sin of Adam and Eve and has always needed the healing intervention of God. Let us remember that the entire ministry of Jesus is to heal the world. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” When Jesus came, he declared that mission openly and clearly. “The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me for he has anointed me…” (Lk 18:4). This is why the priesthood of Jesus, the mission of his Church, has always been and will always be a healing ministry. Those who institute a separate “healing ministry other than the ministerial priesthood merely duplicate one aspect and distort the priesthood which Jesus has given to us. While it is not the role of the sick and ailing to dictate what cure best suits their ailment, we priests must take that opportunity to teach, admonish and guide the ignorant for that in itself is a great form of healing. We must also heed the outcry, of the sheep, their request for us to live authentic lives, to be coherent and be committed to the mandate given to us by Christ. It would be fulfillment of what Pope Francis asked of priests to be shepherd who smell the smell of the sheep.

Let us therefore take seriously the sacraments of the Church and the tools he has given to us. Let us follow the text of Hebrews 12: 1-29 which focuses our sights on Jesus Christ who is the author and finisher of our faith. I consider it a full course on the holy priesthood of Christ. Pay attention to St Paul who told us that, this age may be evil but our lives must redeem it. “I urge you, then brothers, remembering the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, dedicated and acceptable to God; that is the kind of worship for you as sensible people. Do not model your behaviour on the contemporary word, but let the renewing of your minds transform you, so that you may discern for yourselves what is the will of God… what is good and acceptable and mature” (Rom 12:1-2).

God will Provide
All around us are the bereaved and sorrowing who need comfort, the poor who wish to be helped, the vulnerable and defenseless who wish to be protected, the refugees and persecuted who want to be reassured and the old, the sick and weary who need us to give them strength.

On the other hand, we have the ignorant who need to be enlightened, the wicked who need to be admonished and the evil ones who need to see the light of truth. We may sometimes then ask ourselves where do we then find the resources to provide for all these? Was that not the question of the disciples to Jesus? When he provided for the 4000 or the 5,000, did he not provide for them miraculously from among them? Simply let our commitment be accompanied with a strong prayer of trust “God will provide”, as Abraham told Isaac. As priests, the famous psalm of David is a good place to begin: “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want. Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose… near restful waters he leads me to revive my drooping spirits. … Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me… all the days of my life…” (Psalm 23).

Firm Trust in the Priesthood of Christ
My dear people of God, even in these hard times, thank you for all you are doing. Without you the Church is incomplete and weak. I ask you to sustain your faith and hope in the love of God.

Hard times, evil times tend to bring the worst out of human beings but they bring the best out of God because God is always on the side of the downtrodden. (Rom 5:6). It is when we are way down in the valley that he brings us the best. So as St. Paul says “Let us rejoice in our hardships… (Rom 5: 3-5). Today, in spite of everything, we can say: “Had not the Lord been on our side, answer Israel… (124:2). Yes, we have been through a lot…the worldwide pandemic Corona Virus threatened but failed to kill the Church. Still among us conflicts, very high insecurity, injustice, discrimination violence, banditry, ritual killing kidnapping and all sorts of vices and combine with a collapsed economy to threaten life and almost make things unbearable for us. It is even worse for some other Nigerians. Yet we know: ‘The God of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our stronghold”. He will never forget us. (Is 49: 13-26). Do not be discouraged for truly Jesus is here, present among his people wherever two or three are gathered in his name. Did he not say “I shall not leave you orphans, (Jn 14: 18), let your hearts not be troubled… (Jn 14: 1).

Conclusion: Heal the World
I ask you to make a recommitment today to create a better world through authentic Christian lives. Christians do not change the world by turning their backs to it. They do so by getting involved in it. The time for politics is here again and as usual the situation is getting hot and risky.

But all these are the tools of the evil one to frighten you to submission. Life itself is a risk and so the Church says “get involved”. Join a party, get your voters cards, renew your old ones and when that time is here, go and vote! God can make you win the lottery but you have to buy the ticket first. Step out in faith and trust and God will protect you and use you for his glory. Amen

Aseyi samodun. By the time we meet again next year it shall be a better country, a happier more prosperous people and a stronger and holier church, through Christ our Lord.

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love if God and the sweet fellowship of the Holy Spirit come down upon you and remain with you forever and ever. Amen

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