Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 22, 2022 •
It was the Church that gave us the Scriptures, not the Scriptures that give us the Church.
This is one of the basic mistakes that we make. We think that the Word of God is only the Scriptures. But we know that the Word of God is Jesus Christ. And the Word of God can be incarnate - the living Jesus Christ, we know in the Eucharist, His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. We know that the Word of God can be spoken as in preaching. And the Word of God can be written - the Scriptures. It's all the Word of God.
But we forget that the Church is also the Word of God. Because the Church is the Body of Christ and Christ is the logos, the Divine Word.
Jesus Christ gave us a Church. A community of believers that He empowered to hand on His grace and His teachings.
It was that Church which wrote the New Testament.
It was that Church which brought in converts.
It was that Church Who resolved controversies and disagreements among the people.
To help clarify and solidify this point, we're given the second reading today from the book of Revelation. . . . .
You see what the Holy Spirit is revealing to us through the Book of Revelation and the ministry of John is what the Church looks like and how the Church exists.
We know that we are the Body of Christ. The Lord teaches that we are the living stones from which the House of God, the City of God, the Temple of god is built. So when you hear this description of the stonework of the Holy City it's talking about the people of God. It's talking about us. . . .
We're told very clearly on what foundation this City is built. This City had twelve different kinds of stones that make up its foundation. And these twelve stones represent the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb. And we know who those twelve Apostles are.
The ones that Jesus, the Lamb of God, chose to be the foundation of the Holy City. Of His Church. Of His Body.
Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Ps 67:2-3, 5-6, 8; Rv 21:10-14, 22-23; Jn 14:23-29
Homily begins at 20:19