How beautiful the first reading for Mass is today! It makes your heart glow just reading these words in sacred scripture. The words in the bible are not just words printed on paper like any other words, they are living words. The Holy Spirit completely animates these words in sacred scripture today. They are the inspired words of God. In today’s first reading for Mass you can feel the Spirit giving life to the words that Saint Paul wrote. They come alive and live with a life all their own:
“But, now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the Blood of Christ. For he is our peace, he made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh … thus establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God, in one Body, through the cross … He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”
These words come alive with Paul’s love for the Lord and love for his people. They so aptly apply to everyone who reads these words today, here in this place. Visitors from 49 different countries read the reflections on this website yesterday. You truly do come from both near and far, but we have been made one by the Blood of Christ. No matter where you live in the world, you are still our brothers and sisters in Christ, a family formed by Jesus Christ himself.
Saint Paul continues to write in the Spirit today, saying:
“So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
What could we possibly add to these words? Not a thing. They are beautiful enough that they speak for themselves. In our church, there are no strangers, only friends that we have not yet met.
A priest gave a homily once about how we form “community” within the church. He said that Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Church that he built through the Apostles. But, we are the bricks. The structure of the church is so big that we can never get to know everyone, but as a single brick, we touch other bricks, who touch other bricks, until the entire structure of the church is built. And yes, the Holy Spirit flows between the bricks like a mortar, that holds us together. Like the scriptures just said, Jesus is the capstone, or the head of the Body of Christ.
But, the way we form community, a small church within a church, is by being the “church” for those whose lives we touch. This is of course begins with our family and friends, but it also radiates outward to all those we encounter in life, even in this place. God bless you all for being here and seeking the Word of God, no matter where you live.
The gospel today talks about a master who has been away, but might come back at any time. He encourages us to be alert and be prepared for the master’s return, so he doesn’t catch us off guard. If we get lazy about going to Mass on Sunday, or haven’t been to confession lately, that is one way we are negligent in our own waiting period.
Life is short. When was the last time you told your spouse and your children that you love them? Do your friends know just how much you value their friendship? Life is so precious and time passes so quickly. We may never have the chance to grow closer to God, to grow in our love for Jesus, or grow in holiness with our service to others, during this waiting period we call life. Let’s try to live a little more today, as if it were the last day of our lives, in joy and appreciation for all the blessings that God has given us.
