Nehemiah 8:2-4, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19:8,9,10,15
1 Corinthians, 12:12-30
Luke: 1:1-4, 4:14-21
What is our religious identity? There are many powers that seek to shatter our religious identity. Political affiliations can corrupt our religious identity. Loyalty to an athletic team can weaken our religious identity and practice. Church site loyalty can be cancer to the Body of Christ.
St. Paul reminds us, "If a foot should say to the hand, because you are not a foot, you do not belong to the body, if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it. If one part is honored, all the parts share the joy."
This is the reason the prophet Ezra reads the Law of Moses to the children, women and men. They had lost their identity as the Covenant People of the One God. The Covenant made between Abraham, Sarah and God. The Covenant chiseled in stone by God, given to Moses. The Covenant of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The New Covenant in the Blood Sacrifice of Jesus made between God and you and me.
Luke writes his gospel to strengthen the Covenant identity of Theophilus, you and me, he says: "I have written [the story] down so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received." A narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us in your hearing."
From the time of Ezra to the time of Luke, to our time 2025, The word of God is fulfilled in our hearing. May it strengthen our Christian Identity!
The Bible says: You are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether at St. Nicks or Assumption churches. Whether in Haiti, or Philadelphia. Whether in Spanish, German, or Ukrainian, whether Democrat or Republican, we were all given to drink of one Spirit.”
This must be our first and last identity. This is the certainty of the teachings we have received.
A certainty that withstands friends, family and countrymen.
A certainty that withstands, sin, sickness and death.
A certainty that withstands political winds, financial fires, and religious scandals.
It is manifest destiny that God and God alone brings glad tidings to the poor, liberty to captives, sight to the blind and emancipation to the oppressed.
This is the Good News of Jesus H. Christ. Whose body we are!
Let us give thanks and praise!