3rd Sunday OT - Fr. Leo
As Jesus rolled up the scroll from Isaiah and handed it to the attendant, he proclaimed to all that he was the messiah, the Son of God, who would give sight to the blind and make justice reign for all people. Thus began his mission to bring us into the circle of God’s love.
Paul’s writing comes after Jesus has established God’s presence among us and teaches us that in Christ we are all one body to continue the coming of God’s kingdom that we consider God’s presence in this world.
The unity of the Church is depicted in the analogy of the one body with many parts. There is no room for one person being more important than another. The body has many members that work as one or dies. While we are all parts of one body we must respect the roles grace has given us. I wouldn’t ask a rocket scientist to operate on my brain, and I wouldn’t ask a brain surgeon to help me get to the moon. Though our gifts differ, they are al to be held in reverence. Without reverence, there comes division through the presence of false ego making unity impossible.
It is sad when we see division in our Church. For example: there is a group of traditionalists who would like a return to the Latin Mass represented by Cardinal Burke. While the Latin Mass is a treasure, it does not allow people to pray in the vernacular, which Jesus did with his disciples. It is one thing to like the Latin liturgy, and another to attack the pope publicly and cause disunity.
Where ever we find disunity, in parishes, families, or corporations, you will usually find brokenness that needs to be healed. Sometimes it’s our past that causes blindness as we live now and imagine a future. Our unhealed neediness obscures our vision and causes disharmony in the group.
It is our growth in the Spirit of God through Jesus Christ that heals our wounds and creates the unity that allows the fullness of life-God’s kingdom-to be the way of life for God’s people, many though one. Let us pray for healing so division may cease, division that is so prevalent in our lives today. May God’s grace and peace come to reign on the earth through the hearts of all of us united in Christ’s love. Come Holy Spirit, enkindle in us the fire of your love.