Homily in Clifton Cathedral, Bristol during Mass broadcast by BBC Radio 4

1. Very often, we have a tendency to see first what is wrong with life rather than what is right. I asked somebody the other day, how he would describe this generation of which we are part and he used the words – demanding, unforgiving, comsumeristic but then added – however people still hope that they can find happiness and enjoy life rather than be disappointed and dissatisfied.

2. It is not surprising that people are often without hope when we listen to the news and hear of terrorism and violence and see the devastation and senseless loss of life caused by warfare. Why it is that war is not something of the past? Why is war and violence still part of the human agenda? Back in the 1960’s Yuri Gagarin, the first human being in space said “looking at earth from afar you realise it is too small for conflict and just big enough for co-operation”.

3. Yet there are still wars – and the lack of co-operation between people is often a root cause of starvation, diseases, modern forms of slavery and an exploitation not only of people but also the earths resources. It is not only human beings who want to be liberated but the whole of creation.

4. Is it impossible for us to live together as a human family? Some people would say it is impossible but others would say it is possible because we have been shown a way for it to happen. It is the Way taught and lived by Jesus – a way that he also died for, but in his death he proclaimed a new way of life. Nothing can overcome the love that God has for us and the whole of creation. And it is the will of God that we respect and celebrate our differences and live as one human family in harmony with one another and the whole of creation.

5. St John teaches us today that Jesus is our nourishment, our food for life – “I am the living bread” says Jesus “which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I shall give is my flesh for the life of the world”. Christ is about life and not death – about hope and not despair; about helping us walk in the ways of perception rather than folly.

6. A challenge for us today is to know to what and to whom to give our attention. Whatever claims our attention, also determines our behaviour towards one another and towards our world. For Christians, in the midst of what is often a confusing life, our attention is on Jesus. He should be the focus of our lives and we believe that if he is the focus of life, we will live in a new world – a reconciled and hopeful world.

7. Writing to the Ephesians, St Paul said “This may be a wicked age but your lives should redeem it”. Those who believe in Christ are not called to condemn the world in all its hurt and violence but to love it, to bring out the beauty of life and to reveal the wonder of creation. Christians believe in a future for humanity. That future lies in the hands of those who are strong enough to provide coming generations with reasons for living and hoping.