The church building that our community presently worships in is the third building that our parish community has occupied. Its construction was begun in 1925 and completed in December of 1926, when our church was dedicated on December 12, 1926. That means that we are beginning the 100th anniversary of our church building. Although we were established as a parish in 1896, a hundred and thirty years ago, this church that we are now in has been our parish home for 100 years.
When a church is built, and set aside as a place for worship, the bishop of the diocese comes and dedicates it. Our church was dedicated in 1926 by Bishop Alexander MacDonald. When a church is dedicated, it is set aside as a place of worship. Within it, the Christian community meets to celebrate the Eucharist and to be built up to be the living Body of Christ in the world. From the celebrations of the liturgy that take place in the building, the Christian community is sent out into the world to continue Christ’s mission and make Jesus present in their day-to-day activities. Because what the Christian community does in the church building is what makes it the church—the living Body of Christ—the building is supposed to be a sign which points to the presence of the Christian community in the area. When people come out of the Bathurst Subway Station and see our church building, it is supposed to be a sign of hope to them, announcing to them the presence of the Christian community. The fact that so many people in need come to our Winter Welcome Table, and office door for assistance, is an indication that we are living up to that sign value.
When a church is dedicated, the first reading for the Mass is always the first reading that we heard proclaimed today from the Book of the Prophet Nehemiah. In this reading, the people of Israel gather to hear the scriptures, which had been lost to them for many years, proclaimed to them again by the priest Ezra. As Ezra reads these scriptures to the people, for the first time after they had been rediscovered, they understand that as they listen, they are God’s people and they desire to serve Him and care for the poor. This scripture passage is proclaimed at the dedication of a church to remind the community that it is formed by God’s Word. It is because God has spoken to us in His Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, that we are a community. We are called to be formed by Christ’s Word and respond to it. In our Catholic tradition we come to know Jesus and His love for us through His Word and Sacrament. As the Responsorial Psalm proclaims, “Your word, Lord, are spirit and life.” We are reminded that the life of our community is to be grounded in Christ’s teaching and Gospel.
What we are called to become as a result of hearing Christ’s Word, and celebrating the Eucharist, is proclaimed in today’s second reading from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Through baptism, we have all of us been made members of Christ’s Body, the Church. After we are baptized, we were all anointed to share Christ’s priestly, prophetic and kingly mission. As Paul tells us, although there are different functions within the Church, each one of us is a member of Christ’s Body and is called to continue His work in the world. The purpose of the ordained clergy—bishops, priests and deacons—is to serve the baptized by celebrating the sacraments so that the laity might live their mission in the world. I love to quote St. Augustine, who used to say when giving out the Eucharist: “Christian become what you receive, the Body of Christ.” As we are to become the Body of Christ when we receive the Eucharist, I will also quote here St. Theresa of Avila, who reminded Christians that they were to continue Christ’s work as she told them: “Christ has no hands now but yours, no eyes but yours, and no body but yours, to continue His work.”
In this Sunday’s Gospel, we begin reading perhaps what is the best summary of what Christ came into the world to do. This Sunday we begin reading from the Gospel of Luke. This is the Gospel that we will read at the Sunday Masses throughout the coming year. What is unique about Luke’s Gospel is that it is the first part of a two-book work. The Gospel of Luke is just the first half of a two-book work by the same author known as Luke-Acts. The Acts of the Apostles is the second part. In the Gospel of Luke we come to know about Christ’s life and how He manifests God’s love for humanity. In the Acts of the Apostles, we hear how the Holy Spirit came down upon the Church after Pentecost and the Church was to continue Christ’s work. Just as Jesus proclaims that He is the anointed one of God, sent to proclaim the Good News, so too, as I mentioned, you and I are anointed in baptism to bring that same Good News to others today.
As we celebrate this year the Jubilee theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” the Gospel of Luke that we will read throughout the year is a wonderful Gospel to proclaim hope. It is a Gospel that proclaims many of the reasons that we are never to loose hope. Sometimes, also called the Gospel of Mercy, in Luke’s Gospel alone, we hear the Parable of the Prodigal Son, and many other unique stories that remind us that the Lord always forgives those who repent, no matter what they have done. Luke is also known as the Gospel for the poor, proclaiming God’s love for the marginalized and poor. Whenever people ask me where they should start reading the scriptures, I always tell them by reading Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. If you are looking for a Bible project this Jubilee Year, that would be my suggestion, slowly read through Luke-Acts.
As today’s scripture readings remind us, when we gather in this building to hear God’s Word proclaimed, and celebrate the Eucharist, you and I are called to become the Church—the Body of Christ present in our world today. We are challenged to ask ourselves what it means for us to be a community charged with the responsibility of continuing Christ’s work. Does our building really point to a living Christian community within it? Do we really see ourselves as sent from this building to continue Christ’s work? As each one of us receives the Eucharist this Sunday, let us pray for the grace to become what we receive—the Body of Christ in the world today.
Fr. Michael McGourty,
Pastor—St. Peter’s Church—Toronto, Ontario
This reflection is taken from the readings form the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year C : Nehemiah 8: 2-4a, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12: 12-30; and Luke 1: 1-4, 4: 14-21.
