Homily for the Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time - 12 June 2016

Google the phrase "Hand of God" and you get photos of hand-shaped astronomical phenomena, of Maradona's infamous goal against England in the quarter finals of the 1986 World Cup, and Michelangelo's Creation of Adam. The last of these is possibly the most famous painting of all time, recently restored, reproduced endlessly and now the subject of many cheeky internet memes. Painted in 1511 or 1512 as part of his Genesis cycle for the Sistine Chapel ceiling, it has a bearded God, the Ancient of Days, surrounded by His spiritual creation, and a youthful man, brand new humanity, surrounded by material creation. Adam looks languorous, as if a lover just waking from sleep, as he gazes confidently at his Creator.

Instead of the images of God shaping the man out of clay or giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to bring life into him that previous painters had used to represent the moment of humanity's birth, Michelangelo chose to focus on the hands of God and man. As God stretches out his hand the man responds as if in a mirror image, declaring with the Book of Genesis that man and woman are made in God's image. Only a sliver of daylight separates God's hand from Adam's, showing both how close God is to us and yet transcendent.

Hands of course have great significance: friends shake hands, lovers hold hands, parents touch and tickle and wash children with their hands, we write, paint, play sport, make music, do manual labour, operate, nurse, drive, and so much else with our hands.

Catholicism is a very hands-on religion. We express our faith with hands together in prayer and with hands open in service. We put our hands to work in making a more just and compassionate world. And all our sacraments involve hands: pouring water, anointing with oil, absolving and blessing with the sign of the cross, holding hands as we make vows and exchange rings, calling down the Holy Spirit at baptism, confirmation and ordination with hands laid upon head and heart, calling that same

Interview with Alan Jones and Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher OP

Recorded 27th of May 2016

Used with permission The Alan Jones Breakfast Show, 2GB 873AM

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Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP's final comments after the ACYF final Mass, including his announcement of the Year of Youth and that ACYF 2017 will be in Sydney!

Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP's Homily at the Closing Mass for the Australian Catholic Youth Festival, 5 December

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Homily by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP. Text available here: