Daily Mass Reflections - 9/18
“When the body of Christ unites, the enemy will have no one to divide.” ~ Gift Gugu Mona
In today’s 1st Reading (1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31) Paul introduces us to the concept of the Catholic Church as the “Mystical Body of Christ.”
Each one of us called to use our own unique talents and abilities, all meticulously and painstakingly given to us by an abundantly generous God, with all parts of this mystical body working as one to perform God’s will for his church. Logic would therefore dictate that it is our task to become aware of our individual talents and seek to foster and cultivate them during this Earthly journey.
Paul explains that “In one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body, whether Jew or Greek, slave or free person, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit” going on to urge the Corinthians to “strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.” This is certainly an uplifting, hope-filled message of our brotherhood and unity in Christ. However it’s hard to read this passage and not think of our fallen away Catholic brothers and sisters. It’s so important to pray for them and to urge them, gently or otherwise, to return to their role as part of this mystical body of Christ. To return to the Eucharist. The fact of the matter is, as long as there is even one fallen away Catholic in the world, the Church is simply not complete.
With that in mind, I don’t believe it was a coincidence that the Gospel chosen for today (Luke 7:11-17) tells the story of Jesus raising the young man from the dead. As our faith continues to flourish, we come to truly believe that with God all things are possible. There are many today who are spiritually dead, having been swallowed up by the distractions and fleeting thrills of the secular world, or perhaps their hearts have been hardened to poverty and injustice, or the casual callousness that has crept into the discourse as people flippantly refer to abortion as “reproductive healthcare.” The rampant increase in sex trafficking and the lack of tangible action being taken to end it. And speaking of lack of action taken, how about the crisis currently going on right within our church, where lip service and an ocean of empty promises seems to rule day?
Maybe there are even times when you feel spiritually dead. Or perhaps at least on spiritual life support.
But just as Jesus raised the dead in today’s Gospel, he can raise what’s dead in each and every one of us. By turning to him in a more meaningful and complete way, our lives can be reinvigorated by the way...the truth...the light.
Today’s Psalm (Psalm 100) proclaims that “We are his people, the sheep of his flock.” When we serve God with gladness, praise him and give him thanks, and live our lives in complete confidence of his kindness, a kindness which endures forever, we allow our hearts to be enlivened and our souls galvanized, further emboldening ourselves for the journey to our Father’s House.
