Praise be to Jesus Christ

 

How was your week?

May God bless our community with justice and peace.  

 

Why are you here or sitting in your seats today?

Why do you volunteer as a lector, a reader, give offerings, and take a communion?

 

On this day, why am in sitting in this church?

Let us reflect for a moment.

 

The church exists to serve God’s kingdom.  

Hence, traditionally the church describes its purpose as follows:

To invite everyone to the God’s kingdom

To organize the church as the main body and Jesus at the top

To realize God’s justice and peace in the world.

 

We have already been invited and are members of the church.  

We now need to fulfill God’s justice and peace on earth.  Through the words we are properly taught; through the communion we are strengthened; through our lives we realize God’s justice and peace so that we may enjoy the joy in God’s kingdom.  

 

Today’s first reading speaks to the justice; it is doing the good deeds.  Evil shepherds had done bad deeds to sheep.  They scattered them, drove them away, and did not take care of them.  However, God will appoint a good shepherd; bring them all back and take them to their home to take care of them.  “This is the name they give him: “The LORD our justice”.” (Jeremiah23:6)

 

The second reading speaks to the peace.  Peace is reconciling.  

Division and conflict cause the hostility.  Jews and gentiles were divided but Jesus reconciled them with God through the cross by eliminating the hostility.  He proclaimed peace to all people: “for he is our peace.” (Ephesian2:14)  

 

The gospel speaks about disciples’ mission.  They were dispatched to fulfill God’s justice and peace.  They cured the sick and drove away the evil spirits.  They performed many good deeds; freed people from evil and reconciled them with God.  

 

However, Jesus also recommended rest to his disciples.  It is necessary to recharge them.  Jesus took disciples to remote areas; he taught them as needed since he understood the reason for sending them out.  

 

On this day, why are you sitting in this church?  It is so that you may be prepared to fulfill God’s justice and peace.  

 

What is God’s justice?  Doing the good deeds.

What is God’s peace?  Reconciling with each other.  

 

Now that we have been taught through the words, let us recharge as we take the communion so that we may fulfill God’s justice and peace in the church, in our home, and with our neighbors.  “And above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection.” (Colossian 3:14) ("금상첨화")

 

Let us meditate for a moment.