Archbishop Dermot Farrell. Photo: OSV News/courtesy John McElroy People who believe in Jesus in a very worldly way can miss the true meaning of the Gospel, Archbishop Dermot Farrell has said. He was speaking at a Mass last week in which he praised those who often make an unnoticed contribution to the life of the Church.
He spoke of their “deep faith and profound commitment”. He said these people are the living Church within parishes and possess undeniable gifts.
He then discussed Jesus and the Sadducees. He said that the Sadducees often understood religion in a very worldly way, and some of the early Christians did the same. This is something we need to beware of.
Connecting this back to the overall message, Archbishop Ferrell addresses why the story of Jesus and the Sadducees is still relevant today. People need to avoid too much nostalgia for the past and losing sight of what God really wants. He urged the Church in Dublin and beyond to empower people to hear the Lord’s Word and make use of their God-given gifts.