The human hand is an amazing thing. It is made up of 27 bones and can perform incredible tasks. It is a marvel that human engineering can barely imitate. The same can be said for the foot, a similarly complex organism. If we turn our attention to some of the more complex organs in the body, like the brain or the eye, their awesome capabilities become even more profound. And yet, as amazing as these parts are, there remains one fact that is indisputable— separated from the body they become useless and loose their ability to function. Even when attached to the body, if they do not work in harmony with it, they can actually become a liability to the well-being of the body. If a part of the body becomes infected or no longer works in harmony with the whole, it can weigh the body down or actually turn against the body. This is the reason that often the best way to deal with an infected or cancerous organ is to amputate or remove it before it does harm to the whole.

In his First letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul writes beautifully about this phenomenon of the different parts of the body and the importance of their functioning together in order for any of them to have value. He does so in order to speak of the Church and the importance of the different members of the Church working together to build up the one Body of Christ. In chapter 12, verse 12 to 27, Paul writes:

 For just as the body is one, and yet has many parts, so all the parts of the body though they are many, are only one body. So also in Christ. And indeed, if in one Spirit, we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether servant or free. And we all drank in the one Spirit. For the body, too is not one part, but many. If the foot were to say, “Because I am not the hand, I am not the body,” would it then not be of the body? And if the ear were to say, “Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body,” would it then not be of the body? And if the ear were to say, “Because I am not the eye, I am not part of the body,” would it then not be of the body? If the whole body were the eye, how would it hear” If the whole were hearing, how would it smell? But instead, God has placed the parts each one of them, in the body, just as it has pleased him. So if they were one part, how would it be a body? But instead, there are many parts, indeed yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need for your works.” And again, the head cannot say to the feet, “you are of no use to me.” In fact, so much more necessary are those parts of the body which seem to be weaker… so that there might be no schism in the body, but instead the parts themselves might take care one of the other. And so, if one part suffers anything, all the parts suffer with it. Or, if one part finds glory, all the parts rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and parts like any other.

I raise this issue this week, because since I have arrived here in the parish I have encountered something that I have found a little interesting. Many people have introduced themselves to me and Fr. Yaw by saying: “Hello, my name is so and so and I have been a parishioner of St. Peter’s for so long. If there is anything that I can do for the parish, please let me know.” However, a significant number of others have introduced themselves to Fr. Yaw and I by saying: “Hello, I am a member of such and such a group, I live in another parish and you better not prevent my group from meeting here.” Others have told me that they are in charge of certain groups, they have no need of anyone else in the parish and the parish better not interfere with them.” A few have also told me they will not be in the parish when such and such a person is present and I should tell the other person to keep away when they are here. At the same time, last week many people complained that a group that was meeting in the basement was playing its music so loud that it was not possible to hear the readings and homily at the parish Mass that was being celebrated in the parish church. One of the things that I am hoping to work with the Parish Council and the parishioners to do in the coming months is to ask each group in the parish to consider its relationship with the parish and to reflect upon how it can contribute to the spiritual, social and temporal life of our parish community. If for some reason they perceive the parish, or others within the parish, to be an obstacle to their groups activities and existence, I will ask them to reflect upon this and consider how to change this attitude and perception. This is important because the more we can work together as a community to build our parish, the more attractive it will be for others who might wish to join us.

Another significant reality that is very important for our community to keep in mind is that we are also part of a larger community. St. Peter’s Parish is a community within the Archdiocese of Toronto, which is also a particular community within the Universal Church— the Body of Christ. I mentioned in my first homily here that the two documents which I hope to work with all of you to implement as a way of building this parish community are Pope Francis’s The Gospel of Joy and the Pastoral Plan of the Archdiocese of Toronto that has been developed by Cardinal Thomas Collins, the Archbishop of Toronto. Both of these documents offer an exciting future for our parish.

Pope Francis chose for his first significant document a very important title. He called it “The Joy of the Gospel.” This is an important reality and calls us to understand what he is actually challenging us to be and do. In this letter Pope Francis speaks of the JOY that ought to be found in the heart of each Christian because he or she knows Christ. It is this JOY that leads to unified Christian communities and the desire to build the Kingdom of God by caring for the poor and creating places where Jesus can be encountered by all people. Many people quote Pope Francis’ writings in an angry way and condemn the institutional Church for its failure to right all of the world’s social injustices. This type of attitude is not “The Joy of the Gospel.” Pope Francis insists that our compassion and desire to reach out to others must come from a heart that has encountered the JOY of knowing Christ if it is to reach out to the poor in a true spirit of Christian love. This is why if you read “The Joy of the Gospel” you will see that Pope Francis places a great emphasis upon catechesis, the Church’s liturgy, Bible study and opportunities to grow in the spiritual life. He is very concerned that Christianity not be mistaken for social work. It is a response to God’s love that ought to drive the Christian. I look forward to working with you to build a community based in this love and the formation possibilities that will allow us to work together to form a community of charity based in our Christian faith.

Many of the invitations and challenges for us to grow as a Christian community can be found in the Pastoral Plan for the Archdiocese of Toronto that Cardinal Collins presents as his vision for the Archdiocese over the coming years. In this week’s bulletin, you will find a summary of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan.(It can also be found at: https://www.archtoronto.org/our-catholic-faith/pastoral/pastoral-plan-summary). It identifies five key areas to be developed and focused upon. These are: 1) Parish life; 2) Vocations; 3) Evangelization of Society; 4) Catholic Outreach in Justice and Love; and 5) The Cathedral as a Sign of our Mission. All of these areas present some tremendous opportunities and call for growth in our own parish community. I think that it is important to add that the Archdiocese has some very significant plans for our own community. Almost every week there are meetings taking place to talk about how to develop this site as a place for formation and life that will contribute to the life of this parish. The conversation has involved discussion of locating a residence for retired priests, a convent for a community of religious women and all sorts of faith formation projects. My own long term hope is to see a parish community that is so busy we can keep our parish doors open in the day time so that people may come into our church and pray before the Lord in the midst of this busy city. This is a vision that I hope we can all work towards together as one parish community within the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Today’s readings speak to us of the role of the Shepherd in building the community up in unity. To those who seek to divide the flock, the prophet Jeremiah says: “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture.” The second reading reminds us that Jesus,  the true Good Shepherd came to bring reconciliation and to end the divisions that divide people by breaking down the dividing wall of hostility. This same Good Shepherd invites us to be a community gathered under His protection. It is time for a fresh beginning and to put away the animosities and fears of the past. The Lord has given us Pope Francis and Cardinal Collins as our shepherds. In the coming months and years they invite us to work together to implement the “Joy of the Gospel” and the Archdiocesan Pastroal Plan. In order that we might do this as a community, it is my hope to work with you and the Pastoral Council of this parish to unite this community with one vision in which the many parts have their place and role in building one community of faith and love that reaches out in compassion and Christian charity.

Fr. Michael McGourty – Pastor