Cardinal Ratzinger’s Sermon

A Touchstonian sermon, I think, and of obvious interest now: Cardinal Ratzinger’s sermon for the Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff. Near the end he says:

The other element of the Gospel to which I would like to refer is the teaching of Jesus on bearing fruit: “I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain” (Jn 15, 16). It is here that is expressed the dynamic existence of the Christian, the apostle: “I chose you to go and bear fruit. . . .” We must be inspired by a holy restlessness: restlessness to bring to everyone the gift of faith, of friendship with Christ.

In truth, the love and friendship of God was given to us so that it would also be shared with others. We have received the faith to give it to others—we are priests meant to serve others. And we must bring a fruit that will remain. All people want to leave a mark which lasts. But what remains? Money does not. Buildings do not, nor books. After a certain amount of time, whether long or short, all these things disappear.

The only thing which remains forever is the human soul, the human person created by God for eternity. The fruit which remains then is that which we have sowed in human souls—love, knowledge, a gesture capable of touching the heart, words which open the soul to joy in the Lord. Let us then go to the Lord and pray to him, so that he may help us bear fruit which remains. Only in this way will the earth be changed from a valley of tears to a garden of God.