Word to the Wise
Saturday, October 19, 2024 - Saturday in the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
[Eph 1:15-23 and Luke 12:8-12]I do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call.... And he put all things beneath his [Christ's] feet and gave him as head over all things to the Church, which is his Body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way. [Ephesians]
OCTOBER 19 STS. JOHN DE BREBEUF, ISAAC JOGUES AND COMPANIONS [North American Martyrs]
The Letter to the Ephesians continues its truly noble vision of the significance of Jesus' life, death and resurrection for all people. Jesus is the definitive expression of God's love and plan of salvation. That plan is being carried out now in the lives of all believers who become the continuing presence of Christ, By baptism we become members of the Body of Christ, which is more than the institutional expression of the Church. Each believer "incarnates" the faith and makes known the vision expressed in this letter.
The teaching of the Second Vatican Council expands the concept of the Body of Christ beyond the visible institutional bounds of the Catholic church to all those who in one way or another seek God "with a sincere heart." The term, "the one true church of Christ," has been used, historically, to support an exclusive notion of salvation that is not in keeping with the vision of Ephesians. We who are Catholics do have the blessing of a fullness of revelation through scripture, Tradition and sacramental practice which can be traced to the apostolic preaching. This should not lead to a kind of "Catholic smugness" but to a humble invitation to all humankind to share this, no matter what their state in life may be. The implications of the Letter to the Ephesians will be spelled out more in the days to come. Stay tuned! AMEN