+ Our readings today are quite spectacular both in their drama and in
their content: Paul is addressing the newly ordained priests of Ephesus for the
last time, and Jesus asks his Father to consecrate his apostles and all priests
in the truth.
This is astounding: it is now
possible to be absolutely sure concerning the essence and true nature of those
things that have to do with the salvation of the human race. And this is
virtually everything! Just as Jesus was meant to be the clearing house for all
truth because he is the Truth-made-Flesh
– so too his Mystical Body, beginning with those members who reside with Christ
as Head: they would be the vendors and protectors of Truth in the world.
It would therefore behoove the
world to take notice of what the true teaching authority of the Church is
proposing, especially in the ever more chaotic, unraveling, topsy-turvy,
secular society that is being created before our very eyes, and quite
unfortunately, beginning right here in our own country. Now while such truth
can always be expounded and investigated more and more, the truth about
anything cannot change: especially who Jesus is and what he teaches: and that
is love, unconditionally.
St. Paul warns the Ephesian
priests to beware of those who will come to destroy the truth (even members
from their own communities), very much like the efforts to destroy Jesus
himself – but especially now that Jesus reigns as victor over any confronting
power, so too the Ephesians will reign victorious if they focus on the Gospel
as given – and the entire remaining Scriptures as setting and application of
this Divine communication for our welfare.
The
Church is meant to be the “master communicator!” And so
we pray for a better and deeper understanding of the fact that the word of the
Lord is truth, and that if we have been ordained, and baptized and
professed, we have been consecrated with
differing degrees of this truth – but not for our own private benefit, but for
the gathering and salvation of all the world.
God
speaks only truth, so that our feet may be guided safely to him!