HOMILY FOR COMMISSIONING MASS FOR THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NCEC – FRIDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF LENT
ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL CRYPT, SYDNEY, 6 MARCH 2026
Throughout the Gospels Jesus is referred to as διδάσκαλος (didáskalōs). It’s typically translated Teacher but can mean something richer, like Master Instructor, one who teaches the teachers, forms the minds and hearts of students, and draws out the latent potential of both. Jesus was called didáskalōs by His followers, by strangers, even by enemies, and used the title Himself. “You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am.” (Jn 13:13; cf. Mt 23:8; 26:18). Thus, the great second century theologian, Clement of Alexandria, entitled his Christology text The Paedagogus (c.198 AD).
Like every master-teacher, Jesus had His preferred paedagogical methods. He used some choice curse words when addressing the clerics, theologians and canonists of His day. He engaged in profound and patient instruction for His disciples. But His preferred method of teaching the great bulk of people was storytelling (Mt 13:10-11 etc.) and that’s on full display today as He tells the Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Mt 21:33-46).
It’s among the most layered of His stories, touching on many themes. We begin in a vineyard. Here, as in several places in the Scriptures, God is the landlord or gardener. He plants the vineyard, builds a fence, winepress and tower, making it nice for His tenant-farmers. So the context of this teaching is God’s providential care for us, generously providing us with a fertile world, worthwhile work, and security.
Next, the vigneron entrusts his vineyard to some tenant-farmers: the People of Israel. God still does the heavy lifting of creation and salvation, but he delegates some creative and redeeming power to humanity, that we might play our part. Our task is a simple one: to make the most of the vineyard, enjoy its fruits, and render God His due. So, while this Gardener-God is generous and patient, he does expect us to take responsibility and render an account when the time comes.
Our parable then takes a dark turn. The tenant-farmers mutiny. When the divine vigneron sends representatives to collect his tribute—worship, charity, righteousness—they are comprehensively rebuffed. One is beaten up, another stoned, a third killed. Jesus had the prophets in mind: Jeremiah was beaten (Jer 20:1-2), Jehoiada stoned (2Chr 24:20-21), and Isaiah sawn in two.
The landlord keeps trying, sending more representatives, and they suffer the same treatment. And so, he finally sends his son, assuming he, at least, will be respected. But the son is seized, dragged out of the vineyard, and slain. Closed minds and open ambition beget disobedience, even violence.
Jesus’ hearers expect the story to end with divine retribution: “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they say, “and rent the vineyard to better tenants.” Fair enough. But Jesus’ own ending is milder: he will transfer the vineyard from Israel to the Gentiles. And here endeth the lesson—or so it seems.
Part of what separates a Master Instructor from an average teacher is the ability to take students places they weren’t expecting. And so, there’s a twist to Jesus’ tale. Quoting the Psalms (Ps 118:22-23) He asks, “Have you not read in the Scriptures that the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone?” The apostles knew He was talking about Himself. Peter, preaching to the Sanhedrin after Pentecost, uses the same image of Jesus as the cornerstone to assert that “salvation is found in no one else” (Acts 4:8-12). Paul tells his Ephesians, “You are citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is fitted together and grows into a holy temple.” (Eph 2:19-22)
In this season of Lent the resonances in Jesus’ tale are especially poignant: the vineyard owner’s Son, we realise, is Jesus Himself, dragged outside the city walls to be killed; but in “a marvel in our eyes” He is vindicated. Instead of arriving with terrors, “bringing those wretches to a wretched end”, God joins the violated and condemned Himself, and from that desolate place brings salvation.
To tell this story with its twist, this new parable of salvation history, will require new storytellers, a new building with Jesus as cornerstone, new tenant-farmers to produce a rich harvest and render to God His due. That new thing is: the Christian Church.
But Christian leadership can be demanding. If some Old Testament prophets suffered martyrdom, far more of the New Testament saints did. Millions have been persecuted since. To call Christian leadership a privilege is therefore paradoxical. Jacinta now relinquishes and Scott assumes responsibility for a very important part of God’s vineyard in Australia. Catholic education has often been tagged “the jewel in the crown of the Australian Church”—which makes Scott keeper of the crown jewels: I hope it will not feel like being in the Tower of London! We are stewards of a great treasure, worthy of our talents and energies. Our parable invites reflection upon the privilege and obligation Scott receives as Executive Director of the National Catholic Education Commission, and invites confidence that God will give him and the Commission the graces we need.
Our 1,751 schools, 700 early childhood centres, several higher education institutions, and hundreds of thousands of students—along with families, educators, and the wider community—all look to us to do our best by them and by God. So, I was disappointed last week to hear the Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism, warn that rising enrolments in faith schools threatens social cohesion. After Bondi there is naturally much soul-searching by government, and perhaps also some deflection of responsibility. But the Minister’s words feed the ongoing antagonism from certain quarters towards non-government schools. The implication that children in Catholic schools only meet members of their own tribe is absurd: we have children of all religions and ethnicities in our schools, and all are taught respect for others. So, too, the headlines in yesterday’s left-leaning media blaming the rise in non-government school enrolments on “massive underfunding” of state schools and “segregation” of our school system—which is code for “Stop funding faith schools; make them unaffordable; that will stop the flight from government schools.”
For a century the denial of state support for Catholic schools fuelled resentment and sectarianism in this country; the advent of fairer funding was a major contributor to social cohesion. So, we must be very wary of campaigns to walk that back, or to divide the educational ecosystem one sector against another. Every generation must make the case afresh for Catholic schooling, for fair funding, and for parent choice. There will be many more challenges ahead for you, Scott, and many opportunities, as you assume the role of Master Instructor. We pray to Christus Paedagogus for this new chapter in your life, and for the NCEC and its partners also, calling upon Him to be the keystone of all Catholic education.
INTRODUCTION TO COMMISSIONING MASS FOR THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NCEC
FRIDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF LENT, ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL CRYPT, SYDNEY, 6 MARCH 2026
Welcome friends, to our Mass farewelling the outgoing Executive Director of the National Catholic Education Commission, Hon. Jacinta Collins, and commissioning her successor, Hon. Scott Ryan. Like Jacinta, Scott has served in the Senate of Australia—though across the aisle from Jacinta, which shows how very ecumenical we are in Catholic education! Like her, he brings an extensive background in educational policy. He served as a ministerial advisor, parliamentary secretary and then as Assistant Minister for Education, and as Minister for Vocational Education. His recent experience as Australia’s High Commissioner to Canada gives him the diplomatic smarts for dealing with Catholic education leaders, our political and bureaucratic masters, and those most difficult of all stakeholders: the bishops!
I acknowledge concelebrating with me two of those steak-eaters: Most Rev. Mark Edwards OMI, one of the NCEC Commissioners, and Most Rev. Danny Meagher from the Board of Catholic Schools NSW, both of whom are also members of the Bishops’ Commission for Catholic Education; along with Very Rev. Julian Wellspring JV, Rev. Prof. Frank Brennan SJ, and
I salute the Chair of the NCEC, Mr Nicholas Moore AO KSG, with several of the Commissioners; the chairs or CEOs of state or territory, diocesan or RI/MPJP Catholic education authorities; and other representatives of the Catholic educational ecosystem.
I acknowledge Hon. Rachel Merton MLC and other civic officials.
I greet in particular Jacinta Collins and Scott Ryan with their family and friends, including Scott’s wife Helen, and sons Nick and Ben. To all of you here this evening, a very warm welcome.
