“You also are being built together into a dwelling
place of God in the Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:22
Living Stones
October 20, 2020
Today’s Touchstone is reflection on the first reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Paul is writing to remind the church in Ephesus that the early church community was unified by Christ. Through the peace of Christ, the divisions between the Gentile and Jewish communities were healed. Paul reminds his readers that as members of this unified community, they are members of the household of God, and together, in community, they are creating a dwelling place for God.
Paul’s letter has an important message for contemporary readers, too. Paul reminds us that division and discord are healed by Christ’s peace, and it is in the spaces where we come together - as we are - with differing viewpoints, differing opinions, and differing stories that we build a dwelling place for God on earth. Christ’s peace is what fills the spaces where we don’t align, and Christ’s peace moves us toward healing, reconciliation and wholeness.
This work is easier said than done. As I prayed with this reading, these are the questions that guided my reflection. How can the gifts we bring to our family, our community, our jobs, our nation help us in healing division? How can we work to come together instead of pulling apart? How can we show up differently in our daily lives, so as to be living stones built up into a sacred home for God in the Spirit here on Earth?
Peace and be well,
Kate Rice
MPB Faith Formation Team
.
In this same vein, as an accompanying song I went scavenging through my own archives to find a favorite piece that I used to sing fairly often. Not really a church composition, per se, it is a song by Stephen Schwartz about being open and prepared enough to recognize when something amazing comes along and being ready take a chance, make the change necessary and embrace the unimagined possibilities of a greater, joy-filled life.
I hope you are all continuing to be well and to actively and intentionally hunt the good moments and savor them when you can.
God Bless,
Fr. Pat
Tuesday of the Twenty Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading | Ephesians 2:12-22
Brothers and sisters:
You were at that time without Christ,
alienated from the community of Israel
and strangers to the covenants of promise,
without hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by the Blood of Christ.
You were at that time without Christ,
alienated from the community of Israel
and strangers to the covenants of promise,
without hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by the Blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, he made both one
and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh,
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,
that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,
thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile both with God,
in one Body, through the cross,
putting that enmity to death by it.
He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near,
for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh,
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,
that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,
thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile both with God,
in one Body, through the cross,
putting that enmity to death by it.
He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near,
for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
"Come to the Living Stone" - Kirner/Warner Notre Dame Folk Choir
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