You are citizens like all the saints and part of God’s household
There are two ways of looking at our Christian life and vocation. There is the narrow, individualistic way in which I consider it in terms of “my”: my history, my vocation, my achievements, my failures, my aspirations, my fears, my destiny. This is a perspective that can yield pride in the good things: background, calling, position, titles and achievements. It can bring regret and remorse for the things not well done, or for mistakes and sins. It can yield anxiety over the fear of what is to come, or pursuit of personal ambitions.
There is another perspective which is proposed in today’s readings. These readings invite us to look at the bigger picture. Paul tells the Ephesians who are gentile converts that they are now one with the Jewish people through the cross of Jesus Christ. They are all now citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. They are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundation, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone. Each individual has a niche in that building which embraces the past, the present and the future.
We may quickly think that by this is meant the Catholic Church, but that is not the case. Nor is it comprised of all other denominations that profess Christ. Rather, it is comprised of those who do God’s will. It encompasses those whom the Master, on his return, will find awake and who will open for him as soon as they hear his knock. Certainly, many of those will be members of the Catholic Church but equally certainly, not all of them. There will be many from other denominations and from other religions, and equally many Catholics and others who will not be on their post.
This perspective invites us to focus not on ourselves but on the Master. It invites us to look at ourselves not as individuals but part of a bigger community, starting with the community in which we live. It is not my achievements but our achievements, not my aspirations but God’s plans, not my failures but God’s mercy to us sinners, not my strength but God’s help. There is no room for pride, but room for gratitude, not remorse but repentance, not fear but hope.
