Second Reading
"Beloved:
Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings
but chosen and precious in the sight of God,
and, like living stones,
let yourselves be built into a spiritual house
to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
This reading from 1 Peter 2:4-9 (above is a snippet of the whole reading) struck me as extremely important. All Catholics are called to be 'living stones' - to be strong pieces of the foundation of Jesus' Church here on earth. In order to become these living stones, we will have to be well-weathered, and stand up to the harshes abuse and environments. We will bear the weight of many wounds and hateful gestures, but we must remain firm in our beliefs and faith in Jesus Christ.
Pope Benedict XVI, I assume, will become a great example of a 'living stone.' Already, people are labeling him as 'ultra-conservative,' 'intolerant,' and the like, but he remains firm in his teaching, as does the Roman Catholic Church. He will be rejected by many, but he, I am sure, will lead our Church into the 21st century with much vigor and love.
Gospel Reading
"Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father."
The Gospel reading, taken from John's Gospel, chapter 14, is also important. Jesus tells us, "No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus gave us the Catholic Church as his visible and living body here on Earth, and we must remain true to her and to her teachings to know the Father. This will become increasingly important as the years go on, for more and more ethical and moral relativism is seeping into cultures around the world. There is but one truth, and it is fully revealed on Earth through the Catholic Church, in Jesus Christ's body. There is but one life, and it is in Jesus.
Stand firm, my brothers and sisters! The rain comes in torrents, the wind roars as in a hurricane and the sky grows dark. We must be ever mindful of our times, and remain steadfast in our great faith.