Our
readings today are very fitting for the first passages read after the Apostolic
Visit of Pope France to our United States. The first reading
speaks of the return of the people of God to Jerusalem after their exile, and
how happy God is to announce that “they shall be his people, and he will be
their God” – God delights in being our God – and he so desires us to delight in
being his people. The decision though is always ours: will we count ourselves
in God’s family or not? It sounds like an almost rhetorical question: but it
needs to be asked: will you be a member of God’s people, his family – or not?
This passage is also a prophetic
one keeping in mind that at the end of the age all of God’s family will be gathered from the east and west, from the
land of the rising of the sun to the land of its setting. There will be a
new city of God – and the people – again – any who want to belong by God’s free
gift – will be the temple of the city. The interrelatedness of harmony, peace,
justice, joy, and love will mark the very stones of this city: and it shall
last forever.
The great ones in this kingdom
– Jesus tells us in the gospel passage – are those show their greatness by
their littleness, - who are like children - who are humble, who are gentle, who
are simply loving.
May we today demonstrate to
God that we are ready at any moment for his return – because we “get” his
message, and we know that it is not just a cozy feel good doctrine – but one
that moves us to action in the city streets, outside the doors of our houses
and churches, to encounter Christ where he is: everywhere – but especially in
the poor and needy – all of whom we will encounter forever in the great Kingdom
– where Christ indeed is King – and where we will be a priestly, prophetic, royal part of his Kingdom, his family forever!
The
Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
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