Not just Mass-goers or Pilgrims but Family

We are the Family of God!

HOMILY | Ezra 6:7-8,12b 14-20 | Luke 8:19-21

Contrary to those who claim that this Gospel seeks to discredit and undermine the relationship of Jesus to his mother and his relatives, it on the other hand affirms the extended family of Jesus, that is among his mother and relatives, and extends that circle of relationship to wider ranges with the condition that ones’ life has to be lived according to the Gospels.

Blood ties are not rejected, but superseded by a new norm of being a family and that is obedience to the WORD of God. (Dianzon)

Our first reading gives us a picture of sumptuous celebration upon the completion of the building of the temple in Jerusalem; celebration is characterised by the blood of bulls, rams, lambs, he-goats as sin-offerings. The Israelites’ relation to God was characterised by blood, that is why the genealogy was so important, and the blood shed by the sin-offerings are important for the Isaelites. But for us Catholics, who believe in Jesus Christ, his blood is given, and obedience to his word is the new norm.

The temple of Jerusalem is to be the home of the family of God, beginning with Israel to the whole world.

This is so with this beautiful Church, with you as the family of GOd. This Church and all other Catholic Churches, are supposed to house not just worshipers but family of God. Not just worshippers or mass-goers strangers to each other.

There is this beautiful song which I find a personal favourite, which captures the image of the family set forth in Christ. The lyrics goes like this:

No one is a stranger here.

Everyone belongs.

Finding our forgiveness here,

we in turn forgive all wrongs.

We are now the family, of which the Lord is head.

Though unseen he meets us here

in the breaking of the bread. (Jeffrey Leech)

We are supposed to be a family, one catholic family gathered in the name of Jesus Christ;

• living in the warmth of God’s roof,

• a community supporting each other,

• eating together; partaking of the Lord’s body and blood from the table,

• praying for each other,

• and inspiring each other.

We now proceed to this celebration as one family let prepare ourselves to receive Christ from the Table of the Eucharist.