Thursday in the Twenty-Second Week of Ordinary Time at Mississippi Abbey

“So, let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you… and you to Christ, and Christ to God” (1 Cor 3:21, 23). Earlier in this same letter, the apostle to the Gentiles wrote: “Let anyone who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Cor. 1:31). My brothers and sisters, each one of us is precious in God’s eyes because we were bought at a great price, the blood of his beloved Son (CF. 1 Cor. 6:20). We belong to Christ and he holds us in the palm of his hand. That is a very secure place to be (CF. Jn. 6:39). The Beloved Son stretches out his hands to the Father who binds us together with the cords of love. The work is God’s, not ours. But for it to be effective, we have to surrender our wills to his will. He who laid down his life for us wants us to lay down our lives for him and the Kingdom of his father. Will we do our part?

Christ, the Master Builder, chose us. We are the living stones with which he built his church. The beauty of the structure reflects the grandeur of the architect. The strength of the structure is the bond of love. We are vessels made precious by the treasure we contain. None of this is our doing, it is the result of the outpouring of His compassionate love. We have been made precious by the One who makes all things holy. Our glory reflects the Father’s glory shining on Christ’s face. Our boast is of the Father’s infinite love. Our boast is of the Son’s abiding presence. Our boast is of the life-creating Spirit who dwells in our hearts.

“Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name give the glory, because of your steadfast love and faithfulness” (Ps. 115:1).