"...let yourselves be built into a spiritual house..." (1 Peter 2:5)
In today's gospel, Christ tells us that he will go before us to prepare a place for us in heaven. In the meantime, what are we to do down here? The first letter of St. Peter today gives us the beautiful analogy of each and every one of us being "living stones" called to be active members of the mystical body of Christ: the Church. And this is something that escapes us all too often. Being Christians, being these "living stones" that help build up the Church implies us working together to build up Christ's body. These stones cannot be static. They must be active. The second reading uses some beautiful imagery. As Christ's followers, we are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation" called to sing God's praises and to make his name known to all the earth.
As living stones, we are called to be filled with the Spirit to help edify this spiritual house. Unfortunately, so many of us are stones, quite literally stones, not living stones, that just sit here and do not contribute to the mission of the Church. We forget that we are called from baptism to share in Christ's ministry. It is not sufficient to sit here like stones once a week for one hour. Our Lord needs you more. The Church needs you more. Each of us is called to do something different with our own individual gifts and to put them at the service of the Lord. We cannot be static. We cannot be on the sidelines. This Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, is inviting us to walk with him on this Way, is inviting us to proclaim this Truth, and is inviting us to live the joyous life of a true Christian. Are we participating in this life? Are we being living stones of this Church making this it come alive? YOU are the chosen race. YOU are that royal priesthood. YOU are that chosen nation called to build up the Church with great works, and as the Lord tells us at the end of today's gospel, these works that we will do in his name, will be even greater than His!
