{"id":20166,"date":"2025-01-24T18:35:06","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T23:35:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/?p=20166"},"modified":"2025-03-14T18:35:40","modified_gmt":"2025-03-14T22:35:40","slug":"your-words-lord-are-spirit-and-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/2025\/01\/24\/your-words-lord-are-spirit-and-life\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cYour words, Lord, are spirit and life\u201d (Psalm 19)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-3006\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/St_Peters_Catholic_Toronto.jpg?resize=232%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"The exterior of St. Peter's Church.\" width=\"232\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/St_Peters_Catholic_Toronto.jpg?resize=232%2C300&amp;ssl=1 232w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/St_Peters_Catholic_Toronto.jpg?w=720&amp;ssl=1 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px\" \/>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 100<sup>th<\/sup> 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.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s 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\u2014the living Body of Christ\u2014the 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.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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, \u201cYour word, Lord, are spirit and life.\u201d We are reminded that the life of our community is to be grounded in Christ\u2019s teaching and Gospel.<\/p>\n<p>What we are called to become as a result of hearing Christ\u2019s Word, and celebrating the Eucharist, is proclaimed in today\u2019s second reading from Paul\u2019s letter to the Corinthians. Through baptism, we have all of us been made members of Christ\u2019s Body, the Church. After we are baptized, we were all anointed to share Christ\u2019s 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\u2019s Body and is called to continue His work in the world. The purpose of the ordained clergy\u2014bishops, priests and deacons\u2014is 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: \u201cChristian become what you receive, the Body of Christ.\u201d 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\u2019s work as she told them: \u201cChrist has no hands now but yours, no eyes but yours, and no body but yours, to continue His work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In this Sunday\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019s life and how He manifests God\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>As we celebrate this year the Jubilee theme \u201cPilgrims of Hope,\u201d 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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>As today\u2019s scripture readings remind us, when we gather in this building to hear God\u2019s Word proclaimed, and celebrate the Eucharist, you and I are called to become the Church\u2014the 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\u2019s 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\u2019s work? As each one of us receives the Eucharist this Sunday, let us pray for the grace to become what we receive\u2014the Body of Christ in the world today.<\/p>\n<p>Fr. Michael McGourty,<br \/>\nPastor\u2014St. Peter\u2019s Church\u2014Toronto, Ontario<\/p>\n<p>This reflection is taken from the readings form the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time \u2013 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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. &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/2025\/01\/24\/your-words-lord-are-spirit-and-life\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3006,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sunday_homilies"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>\u201cYour words, Lord, are spirit and life\u201d (Psalm 19) - St. Peter&#039;s Church<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/2025\/01\/24\/your-words-lord-are-spirit-and-life\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u201cYour words, Lord, are spirit and life\u201d (Psalm 19) - St. Peter&#039;s Church\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The church building that our community presently worships in is the third building that our parish community has occupied. 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Update for the Parishioners of St. Peter\u2019s Parish: March 2018","author":"stpeters","date":"March 1, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Dear Parishioners of St. Peter\u2019s Parish: A Year of Transition This year, our parish community will experience many changes and transitions \u2013 some challenging, and others very exciting.\u00a0\u00a0 I believe it is important that all of us, as a parish community, understand the changes and the reasons for them.\u00a0 So,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A Message from the Pastor&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A Message from the Pastor","link":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/category\/sunday_homilies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Decorative 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Anna was a member of this parish\u2019s choir and was away on her summer holiday when she drowned. 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Turning to Jesus in the Midst of the COVID 19 Pandemic","author":"stpeters","date":"May 9, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"At the Bathurst Street entrance to St. Peter\u2019s Church, there are two very meaningful plaques on the wall of the building. These plaques are similar to many others that are found in some of our older churches. One of these is dedicated to the memory of all of the parishioners\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A Message from the Pastor&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A Message from the Pastor","link":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/category\/sunday_homilies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Anna-Warde-R1-225x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5750,"url":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/2020\/12\/31\/mary-model-of-the-blessed-life-2020\/","url_meta":{"origin":20166,"position":4},"title":"Mary\u2014Model of the Blessed Life","author":"stpeters","date":"December 31, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the things about being here at St. Peter\u2019s Parish that I find a little funny at times, is that often I will be walking along Bathurst, in front of the Church, and as I do so someone will roll down their car window, and stop me on Bathurst\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A Message from the Pastor&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A Message from the Pastor","link":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/category\/sunday_homilies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/1-Solemnity-of-mary-without-t-300x145.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4643,"url":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/2019\/08\/31\/welcome\/","url_meta":{"origin":20166,"position":5},"title":"WELCOME!!!","author":"stpeters","date":"August 31, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0\u201cWelcome.\u201d This is the word that I think best summarizes today\u2019s Gospel. It is also a word that I would like to challenge us as a community to attempt to embrace as we begin this new school year. Since I have come back from vacation, many of you have said\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A Message from the Pastor&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A Message from the Pastor","link":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/category\/sunday_homilies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/welcome.jpg?fit=1125%2C611&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/welcome.jpg?fit=1125%2C611&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/welcome.jpg?fit=1125%2C611&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/welcome.jpg?fit=1125%2C611&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/welcome.jpg?fit=1125%2C611&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20166","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20166"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20166\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20167,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20166\/revisions\/20167"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3006"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stpeterstoronto.ca\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}