In a deeply moving and theologically rich homily delivered during the Chrism Mass at Christ the King Cathedral in Johannesburg, the Local Ordinary of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Johannesburg called on priests and the Church to remain faithful to their mission by “going outside the camp” — to the margins, to the excluded, to the broken-hearted — where Christ himself dwells.

Rooted in the prophetic words of Isaiah — “The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me…” — Cardinal Stephen Brislin reminded the people of God that these are not just familiar words of Scripture, but a profound mandate, taken up by Jesus at the outset of his public ministry, and inherited by the Church and her priests.

The Priesthood: A Mission of Anointing and Sending
Cardinal Brislin emphasized that the mission of Christ is continued through the priesthood — a mission to bind up wounds, liberate the captive, and bring good news to the poor. Drawing on the Letter to the Hebrews, he offered a powerful image of Christ suffering “outside the city gate” — a place of reproach, uncleanness, and exclusion — reminding priests that this is where they too are called to go.
“Outside the camp,” he said, is where the lepers dwell, where the poor are found, and where the rejected of society reside. It is this uncomfortable space, beyond the safety of “the inner ring,” that Christ calls his followers to inhabit.

The Danger of the Inner Ring
In a compelling cultural critique, Cardinal Brislin cited C.S. Lewis’ concept of the “inner ring” — the seductive draw toward power, influence, and belonging among the elite. He warned that this gravitational pull tempts many to compromise their values and remain silent in the face of injustice for the sake of acceptance.
“The lure of the inner ring,” he said, “the lure of materialism, of influence… is a strong gravitational force pulling us to remain in our own created world of safety and false security.”

Poverty of Spirit and the Life of Prayer
In his Thursday, April 17 homily, Cardinal Brislin also highlighted the indispensable role of prayer in sustaining this outward mission. He called on priests to embrace a “poverty of spirit” — a deep interior freedom that emerges from an honest relationship with Christ. Such a relationship, he explained, does not breed guilt but leads to healing, humility, and renewal.
“Without consistent and sincere prayer,” he said, “there can be no inner renewal… no deepening of compassion, mercy, and forgiveness.”

Solidarity in the Presbyterate and Gratitude to the People
Cardinal Brislin spoke with warmth and gratitude about the bond among priests, encouraging unity and mutual support within the presbyterate. “We are not called to be priests in isolation,” he affirmed, “but into a community united by the priesthood of Christ and the mission to build God’s Kingdom.”

He expressed heartfelt thanks to the priests of the Archdiocese for their faithful ministry, and to the lay faithful for their prayerful support: “Without you, your generosity of spirit and your prayers, we would not be able to fulfil our ministry.”
Mary, Model of Hope and Fidelity.

Concluding his homily, the Cardinal turned to the figure of Mary, Mother of the Church, who stood unflinchingly at the foot of the Cross. She is the model of hope and presence — the one who remained with Christ even in his abasement and disgrace.
“May we too,” he prayed, “be so liberated in spirit, liberated from our sinfulness and fears, that we will never fear to tread and to walk where Christ walked.”