The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
I have moved many times in my life, and every time it’s like starting a new life over again. While with a new city comes fun and exciting things like meeting new people, exploring new restaurants, hiking spots and local hangouts, it also comes with very practical necessities like finding a new doctor and dentist. I’m a pretty intentional and practical gal, so I feel it necessary to seek out recommendations for these establishments. While receiving a recommendation for a new restaurant is helpful, there are pretty low stakes. If my food is subpar and the prices too expensive, I’m out maybe $50 and a couple hours of my time. However, I take recommendations for a doctor or dentist much more seriously. These contain higher stakes, because attached to it are my health, future, and my body’s operation.
In Acts 10, Peter talks about how Jesus “commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.” He says that not everyone was shown that Jesus was raised from the dead on Easter, so now it is our task to go and share this Good News with others. I like to think of this as us sharing a recommendation with others we meet: more helpful, and even more necesarry than a recommendation to a new physician. By sharing about this Divine Physician who heals us and lays down His life for us, we can spread the Good News with others who may not have known about Him otherwise; we can prevent others from spending their time and resources on pursuing ineffective cures for their maladies.
We have been chosen today to hear His word, may we allow it to change us. That we are no longer our selfish, self-centered fallen selves, but that we allow Christ to take hold of every fiber of our being, thoughts, desires and actions, so that we and others may come to know Him better and ultimately become more like Him. Amen.
Catherine Huss is a clothing designer in San Diego, and spends her free time playing pickleball, writing, and chatting with a latte in hand. Her favorite conversations combine Jesus and the modern experiences of fashion, relationships, and pop culture. Follow her most recent adventure designing swimwear at siena-co.com.