In the first reading, we hear about Ezekiel’s vision of miraculous waters of life, bringing new life and fruitfulness to every plant and tree it touches. The fruit that is food, and the leaves that heal, are symbols of the sacraments!
Then St. Paul says, [SING] “You are the temple of God, and God’s Spirit, dwells in you; the Temple of God, is holy, you, are that temple!” as we sang in the seminary.
In the Gospel, Jesus fulfills the prophecy that “Zeal for [God’s temple] will consume me.” Zeal consumed Jesus as he drove out the greedy, criminal money changers. The Jews respond, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus responds, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”… speaking about the temple of his Body. And this is what Jesus did on Easter Sunday: he raised up the temple! That is why You are the temple of God, because You are Christ’s Body on earth!
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. In the early church, after Constantine made Christianity the official religion, he allowed Christians to build this church on the property of the Laterani family. All early baptisms took place there.
The full title is the “Basilica of the Most Holy Savior and of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in the Lateran” It is called, “the mother and mistress of all churches of Rome and the world” to teach us that this TEMPLE is a source of unity in the Church. Since it is the MOTHER CHURCH of the entire world, it is the pope’s official cathedral!
This past Friday, our parish celebrated the joyful wedding of parishioners Jerry DeCarlo and Chris Williams! They discerned their vocation to holy matrimony. Every single person has a general vocation to holiness, to becoming a saint. What is a saint? A friend of Jesus Christ who seeks God’s Will. What is a saint? Someone who is a TEMPLE for CHRIST, allowing the light of Christ to shine through them!
I found this church at a garage sale. It represents you and me. This light represents Christ!
So this is everyone’s vocation, to become a saint, a friend of Christ. But everyone also has a specific vocation God has in mind when he created us, a specific calling that will best allow us to become that friend to Christ. These specific vocations are: holy matrimony, priesthood, consecrated life, and generous single life.
This is Called by Name Weekend. Who is the Lord “inviting you to invite” to consider the vocation to the priesthood? You’re invited to fill out that card right now and place it in the offertory basket, or take one home to think about it and mail it later.
In a previous bulletin Bishop’s letter explained Called By Name Weekend. He said that this is not about helping the bishop and his new vocations team to meet with young men who explicitly, openly want to become priests; it’s about allowing them to connect with young men who love the Lord, their Catholic Faith, and would be open to an invitation to discern their vocation.
When you write the name and contact information of a young man aged 15-40, the cards will go to the diocesan Vocation Office. The men will receive a congratulatory letter from the bishop and encouragement from the Vocation Office. There’s a new vocations team of six priests who will work together to reach out to these men. What’s the ultimate goal of this this campaign? As bishop says, “May this campaign bear lasting fruit for our diocese and for the salvation of souls.” That’s the ultimate goal, the saving of souls. That’s why I became a priest!
Why do I love being a priest? First, because I am cooperating with Christ in His mission of saving eternal souls, first, my own soul, then your souls, then the souls of everyone in our parish boundaries. Our responsibility as a parish is to evangelize every soul in parish boundaries!
I love being a priest because as a TEMPLE OF CHRIST, as a Christian, I am invited to let His light shine through me!
In the sacraments, I let Christ shine through me: In Confession, I lend Christ my voice, cooperating with Him in healing people from shame and guilt, sometimes after decades.
In Mass, I lend Christ my voice and hands to consecrate the bread and wine, which I offer to the Father, along with myself, for the salvation of the world.
In Anointing, I lend Christ my voice and hands to heal people.
In Baptism, I lend Christ my voice and hands, who baptizes through me, beginning their path to heaven. Once I baptized an older woman on her deathbed in the hospital, and she was overwhelmed with joy. It was an amazing honor and privilege!
As a priest I also get to shine His Light through the works of mercy, like visiting the sick and homebound.
I not only shine it, but as a priest I get to SEE many people shine the light of Christ, sometimes in surprising ways! I get to meet and talk to so many different people, each person is a unique reflection of God’s beauty. Thank you for all the ways you shine Christ’s light in our parish, at work, at home, and in our community.
“You are the temple of God, and God’s Spirit, dwells in you; the Temple of God, is holy, you, are that temple!”