Vatican Synod's Greek-Byzantine Divine Liturgy at St. Peter's - Cardinal Raï says Jesus “has chosen each one of us to heal these wounds and strive for a better world...in peace and tranquility.”

On October 9th a Greek-Byzantine Divine Liturgy was celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica for all synod participants. Patriarchs of several Eastern Catholic Churches participated, and Patriarch Youssef Absi, the Greek Melkite Patriarch of Antioch, presided over the morning liturgy.

Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï, the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch, delivered the homily at daily Mass for Synod members, and urges Christians to imbibe a synodal way of living to confront the many issues that face our world.   Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï, reflected on Jesus’ invitation to pray for workers for God’s abundant harvest. In his homily, the Cardinal Patriarch noted that Jesus felt compassion for the large crowd which was following Him and so told His disciples: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

Cardinal Raï said Jesus’ words offer a starting point to understand the current state of the Church and the challenges facing society. He reflected first on the abundant harvest as a symbol of various pressing global issues that require attention and action from the Church and all Christians. These issues, he said, include the pursuit of just peace amid ongoing wars, addressing climate change and protecting the environment, challenging exploitative economic systems, aiding persecuted individuals, and healing the wounds inflicted by various forms of abuse. Cardinal Raï added that the harvest includes the need to promote human dignity, foster ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, care for the marginalized and vulnerable, and engage with contemporary societal challenges. 

 The Maronite Patriarch of Antioch went on to consider the laborers who are called to gather the harvest. Cardinal Raï said the Synod Instrumentum Laboris (working document) identifies these laborers as every person sent by Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit, said Cardinal Raï, is the true “protagonist of the mission entrusted to the Church and thus of the entire synodal journey.” Every laborer needs to receive formation and guidance from the Holy Spirit to embrace a synodal way of living. Such training, he said, “involves formation for a life of communion, mission, and participation, as well as synodal spirituality at the heart of the Church's renewal.” Our mission to heal wounds of others In conclusion, Cardinal Raï invited Christians to feel compassion, as Jesus did, for our world’s situations of suffering and the conditions in which people find themselves. He said the suffering of the poor, discarded, refugees, innocent victims of wars, and the homeless all stir Christ’s compassion and should stir our own. Christ, concluded Cardinal Raï, “has chosen each one of us to heal these wounds and strive for a better world, where we can inhabit our common home in peace and tranquility.”
During the Synod, 5 Masses or Liturgies will be celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica. Among the attendees are the approximate 450 participants of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. The next Holy Masses will be on October 13, 18, and 23rd at 8:45 a.m. with the closing Mass presided over by Pope Francis on October 29th at 10 a.m

Source: Vatican News with Screenshot from the Divine Liturgy on Youtube.