7 September 2014
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
We do not journey in life alone. As children of our heavenly Father, we are bound to one another in faith, hope and love (the “theological virtues”). Each of today’s readings illustrates one of these three virtues in a unique way as they are lived out in our relationships with others.We turn first to today’s Gospel which reaffirms our bonds of faith. Jesus assures us that it is in the context of community that our prayers will be heard. This does not diminish the value of personal prayer, but adds another dimension. In the joining of hearts and minds in faith we are the Body of Christ where Jesus makes himself fully present. We have only to look around our congregation each Sunday to witness this unity.
Hope was all the priest-prophet Ezekiel could offer to the suffering, exiled people of 6th century Judah. Jerusalem, the heart and soul of the people's life and faith, was now destroyed, and the people were scattered. Ezekiel would be responsible for bringing them back to God. They would make this journey together, supporting one another as they returned to their homeland. The people’s shared sense of hope would guide them to a better place.
As Paul affirms in his letters, the greatest of the theological virtues is love. It seems simple enough in today’s excerpt from Romans: “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another.” If only we could divest ourselves of the baggage that distorts our ability to love fully! (That baggage is what we call sin!) Still, supported by our faith community and encouraged by its faith and hopefulness, love will grow and reveal its fruits in our relationships, will inspire us, encourage us, lift us up and carry us along the way.
