Repent Of What?

October 25: Saturday of Week 29 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Ephesians 4:7-16; Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5; Luke 13:1-9

Click here for the complete text of today’s readings. 

What is Jesus saying to us as stewards of his kingship? 

(To support  Reaching Jesus: 5 Steps to a Fuller Life... Step Five).

Repent Of What?

“…That he might fill all things” (Ephesians 4:10).

To “fill all things,” Jesus must be in all the persons united to him in his body, the Church. This, in three words is the message Paul was sent to preach: “the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

As Christians, we should be more conscious of this than of anything else: Christ in us to “equip” us as “holy ones” for the work of “building up the Body of Christ.” This, not keeping commandments and “going to church,” is what being Christian is all about. It is all about growing and helping others to grow in “faith and knowledge” until Christ is brought to “full stature” in us his body.  The Church is meant to be, and be visibly,  “the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22).

That is what we will be judged on.

Those who do not know this have not been authentically evangelized. Those not being kept aware of it through teaching, preaching and Eucharist are in sub-standard parishes. Those not working to make it happen are “unfaithful stewards” of the grace entrusted to them.

Those who resent this, preferring to focus on other people’s homosexuality, irregular marriages or abortions, should hear Jesus saying, “Do you think they are more guilty than everyone else? If you do not repent, you will perish.”

PRAY: “Jesus, make me authentic.”

 PRACTICE: Put first things first.