Homily by His Eminence Mykola Cardinal Bychok for the Red Mass — Opening of the Legal Year 2026

Homily by His Eminence Mykola Cardinal Bychok for the Red Mass — Opening of the Legal Year 2026

Your Grace, Reverend Fathers,

Members of the judiciary, the legal profession, and all who serve the cause of justice,

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

We gather at the beginning of this new legal year to ask the Holy Spirit to guide, strengthen, and inspire you in the noble work entrusted to you. The Red Mass is not simply a tradition; it is a reminder that the pursuit of justice is a sacred task, one that touches the dignity of every person and shapes the moral character of our nation.

In the first reading from the Holy Prophet Isaiah, we hear of the Servant of the Lord—gentle, steadfast, and committed to justice. He does not break the bruised reed or extinguish the wavering flame. This image speaks deeply to your vocation. Every day you encounter people whose lives are fragile, whose hopes are dim, whose stories are marked by suffering or failure. The law gives structure and order, but it is your humanity that gives it life. Justice, in the biblical sense, is never harsh or indifferent. It is firm, but it is also compassionate. It seeks what is right while remembering the human person standing before it.

In the Gospel, Jesus offers us the Beatitudes, which are nothing less than the heart of Christian moral vision. They remind us that justice is not only about outcomes but about the kind of people we are called to be.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit”—those who remain humble, teachable, and aware of their own limitations.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness”—those who refuse to become cynical or complacent, who continue to seek truth even when it is difficult or costly.

“Blessed are the merciful”—those who recognise that every person is more than their mistakes. “Blessed are the peacemakers”—those who work to heal divisions, resolve conflicts, and build harmony in society.

These words speak with particular urgency today. Australia faces significant challenges—growing social fragmentation, polarisation in public debate, pressures on families and communities, and a loss of trust in institutions. We see tensions around identity, culture, and belief. We see the impact of economic uncertainty, the struggles of Indigenous communities, and the loneliness and isolation that affect so many. In such a climate, the work of the legal profession becomes even more vital. You help hold together the fragile bonds of our society. You defend the vulnerable, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that justice is not merely an ideal but a lived reality.

Your work contributes directly to the social cohesion we so desperately need. When justice is fair, transparent, and compassionate, it strengthens the trust that allows a diverse society to flourish. When truth is honoured, when rights are respected, when wrongs are addressed with integrity, the common good is served. And when those entrusted with legal authority act with humility, wisdom, and moral courage, they become a stabilising force in a world that often feels uncertain.

At the same time, the Beatitudes call all of us to a deeper respect for what is good and true. Our society needs voices that speak with clarity but also with charity. It needs people who can disagree without demeaning, who can uphold principles without hostility, who can seek justice without losing sight of mercy. You, in your daily work, have the opportunity to model this balance. You can show that justice and compassion are not opposites but partners. You can demonstrate that truth need not be harsh, and that mercy need not be weak.

As we begin this new legal year, I encourage you to let the spirit of the Servant in Isaiah and the wisdom of the Beatitudes shape your work and your relationships. May you approach each case, each decision, each person with a heart that seeks both truth and kindness. May you resist the temptation to become hardened by the pressures of your profession. And may you always remember that justice, at its best, is an act of love—love for truth, love for the common good, and love for the human person.

Today we ask the Holy Spirit to bless you with wisdom in your deliberations, integrity in your judgments, courage in your advocacy, and compassion in all your dealings. May your work this year strengthen the bonds of our society and help build a nation marked by fairness, respect, and hope.

Amen.