Thursday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time

Celebrating the KC's
4th Degree Assembly
in New Albany, Indiana

We have been reassured about you, brothers and sisters,

in our every distress and affliction, through your faith.
For we now live, if you stand firm in the Lord.

Saint Paul came as a stranger to Thessalonica, but he departed the city as a broken-hearted lover. He had such a great affection for the new Christians there; only the Holy Spirit could drive him on to other cities to announce the Kingdom of God.

When we think of Church we often think of institution and organization; perhaps we think of doctrines and beliefs, or ethical teachings and rules. But the first experience of Church should be the affection that binds us together.

You may not know the Pope; but you know a priest who knows a bishop who was personally appointed by the Pope. There are only three degrees of separation between you and the Vicar of Christ. The entire church is bound that closely together.

In our parishes we strive to discover that bonding within our hearts. Some people are rather odd. Have you noticed that? There are some people you might not choose for friendship or acquaintance, but there they are in your church and you must deal with them. You do more with them than “worship the same God,” (that empty and careless phrase.) You worship in the same Church and receive the same sacraments. You belong to them, and they to you.

You might not realize how deeply you do care until something tragic happens. You hear the news and you say, “I knew her!” with some surprise. And you say, “She deserved better than that.” Perhaps you feel a bit guilty for not being kinder, for not taking the opportunities you had to pass the time of day with them.

Or perhaps you hear of good news for that person, some award of recognition or feat of heroism; and you say “I know him!” And you realize it’s not too late to change your mind. You owe him that much.

We hear warnings of just such experiences in today’s gospel:

So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

The church is solidly set on the foundation of Jesus’ sacrificing love for us. Reading his letters we see how Saint Paul built upon that foundation with his affection for people who once were strangers and aliens. Daily the Lord invites us to continue building the church up in love for one another.