As the Church began, the
First Reading
reveals how it became evident that following Jesus' example included care for those in need - the widows and orphans. Those ordained to preach and consecrate bread and wine to become Jesus' Body and Blood needed help.
"Regular" people were commissioned to officially assist,
with the aid of others, to fulfill this need.
The Church is not just a place to pray...
But God's family in community, caring for one another while living in the world with those who don't follow God; However, those in the world be converted through our prayers and actions.
The
Psalm
celebrates the joy that comes from knowing of God's active care and justice. He does not just love His "Own," a favored few,
but He loves each and every one of us as favored.
Filled with words of meaning for the Jews of this time, the
Second Reading
encourages the conversion needed to gain fortitude for facing the world's rejection, alongside Jesus' rejection.
We'll be rejected if we try to ensure that those in our care, our children - will see the light of the true reality -
God exists, loves, cares, and knows what type of living is needed
to bring us out of the darkness of self-service
and into the light of authentic love - love that finds its heart and center in God and then... can do anything!
In this
Gospel
, Jesus makes clear that He, His Father, and the Holy Spirit have provided all that is needed for us to move into the mansion He has prepared for us. Philip speaks for us all, asking how will we know the way, can't we have things made simpler, more direct?
Jesus answers that knowing Him means knowing God the Father, and then everything else will fall into place and not be unclear.
The key is knowing Christ!
Does not life simplify when one priority becomes clear?
A family crisis clarifies all of life's responsibilities, with the crisis at the top and everything we do viewed through the reality of that crisis.
So too should be our faith - at the top, through which everything we choose to do is viewed,
both for its value and in choosing the means by which we should accomplish what lies before it.