This weekend I continue with the fifth homily of a new message series called BREAKING NEWS—THE GOSPEL IS GOOD NEWS. This seven part message series will help all of us realize that God’s love is good news that we should embrace, celebrate and share. God is for us and not against us—He heals us, fills in the gaps, gives us eternity and flows the river of salvation through what we say and do. This makes all the difference in our own lives and for the world!!
I am preaching this series every week at the 8 AM Mass at St. Joseph Church and all the Masses that I celebrate each weekend. If you miss any of the series you can go to our website (chathamcatholic.ca) to watch or listen.
October 11/12 – GOD HEALS US
October 18/19 – GOD HEARS US & HELPS US
October 25/26 – THE POWER OF HUMILITY
November 1/2 – GOD GIVES US ETERNITY
November 8/9 – HEAVEN ON EARTH
November 15/16 – GOD HELPS US PERSEVERE
November 22/23 – BUILDING CHRIST’S KINGDOM
FEAST OF THE ST. JOHN LATERAN BASILICA
Last weekend we celebrated All Souls Day as we took time to remember and pray for our loved ones who have been called home to the kingdom. It is a reminder that we are all on pilgrimage to our eternal home and we have a great gift and responsibility as faithful disciples to help one another march towards eternity.
This weekend we once again forgo the regular Sunday liturgy for the Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran. This feast celebrated on November 9th each year commemorates the dedication of the St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome—which is the cathedral parish for the Diocese of Rome—which means it is the home church of the Pope. This basilica is the most important of the four major basilicas in Rome and was originally dedicated by Emperor Constantine in 324 AD.
This feast is celebrated by the entire Church to signify the unity of all Christians with the Pope and with each other. It reminds us of our past and helps us move forward sharing the Gospel as the “living stones” of the Church. Our unity, faithfulness, dedication and discipleship radiates and flows from all our parishes, families of parishes and church buildings into the world that desperately seeks God’s grace. This feast reminds us that we are one Church, with one message and one mission.
THE RIVER OF SALVATION FLOWS FROM US
“Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish, once these waters reach there. It will become fresh; and everything will live where the river flows.” (Ezekiel 47:9)
This quote from Ezekiel comes from the first reading of the Mass for the Dedication of St. John Lateran this weekend. The prophet has a vision of a small stream flowing from the new temple that grows into a powerful river, bringing life and fertility to barren lands. This symbolizes God’s promise of restoration, healing and life. The vision is given as a sign of God’s overflowing grace, the healing power of his presence and the abundance shared for the world.
We are the river flowing as faithful disciples from our churches out into the streets flooding all corners of our society with grace, joy, love, reconciliation, hope and light. The Church is not a building but a people united as instruments of Christ in our world today—offering salvation, new life, and a renewed purpose for all those yearning for fullness and joy.
WE ARE THE TEMPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
This quote from the second reading this weekend is from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. It reminds us that Christ gave us the Holy Spirit making each of us special, holy and living temples of grace.
The Church is not comprised of bricks and mortar, but of the faithful who are empowered by the Holy Spirit through the gifts of Baptism and Confirmation to be proclaimers of the Good News. Our mission is not to simply fill our churches but to be transformed into a river of salvation that flows from our community and worship out into the world that is barren, lifeless and damaged.
SALVATION LIVED AND FULFILLED
Our family of parishes IGNITE THE MISSION Pastoral Plan seeks to form disciples who recognize the fact that they are temples of the Holy Spirit empowered by Christ to share the river of grace with the world. This can only be done by what we say and do. We seek to transform the world with our ministries, outreach, formation and service. It is done with perseverance, humbly, silently and in small ways that allows God’s grace to slowly grow. Are you ready to dive in and share God’s love together?
