A Reading from St. Paul to EPH 2:12-22
Brothers and sisters: You were at that time without Christ, alienated from the community of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the Blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, he made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God, in one Body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
REFLECTION: "So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God."
Why is the United States so different to other nations?
Paraphrasing Archbishop Chaput: you can migrate to a country like England and eventually obtain citizenship, but you will never really be English. When you migrate to the United States, you probably become American, even before you obtain your citizenship.
Why is that?
Because the US has no presumptions of who you could be based on your origins.
The US has been generous to me and millions of other people that through the centuries have come here to make a better life. Many look for opportunities that were not accessible in our countries of origin. However, this did not come easy. You have to work a lot and apply yourself to your goals if you want to achieve them.
But no matter where you are or where you come from, our souls equally thirst for the same: To be loved by God. And to love Him in return.
We often forget that He loved us first. And He looked for us first.
We need to keep this in mind. Pray a lot about it.
And we are not alone in this. Many, many people also are searching for God.
He has left us His Church, the Catholic Church, and all the treasures He has deposited in it: The Sacraments, the Bible, Tradition, etc. to help us in this journey.
Travelling around the world, my husband and I have always been amazed at the beauty and richness of the Mass. No matter where you are, the readings will be the same everywhere that day. The Eucharist will be elevated at the same time in the order of the Mass. And Jesus will be present in the host no matter where the Mass has been celebrated.
Jesus is always with us and unites us to Himself. We truly become brothers and sisters through Jesus' filial adoption.
Thank you, Lord, for your gifts. We can never again be alone. So we are never again "strangers and sojourners".
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