"We are One Body, the Body of Christ"

Today's Mass Readings

Today’s reading from the book of Leviticus (The priest of the Israelites came from the tribe of Levi of which Aaron was one, thus, the name of the book, Leviticus), takes us further into the religious life of the Israelites. Unlike the society of our times, the Israelite society revolved around the Temple and certain feasts. A summary of the feasts is given in today's first reading. The Passover was the most important of feasts. Connected the Passover was the Feast of the Unleavened Bread (related with the Passover, when the Israelites in slavery eat unleavened bread), the Feast of the First Fruits (harvest festival at the beginning of harvest where the first of the seasons fruits are offered to the Lord), the Day of the Atonement or Yom Kipur (where the entire nation repented for their sins) and the Feast of the Booths/Tabernacles (celebrated in remembrance of the forefathers who dwelt in booth in the wilderness and in thanksgiving for the permanent abode given in the Promised Land). A question emerges in our minds – what was the purpose of these feasts? Why such formalism? Does our relationship with God always have to be ritualistic? The answer can be given in two points. First, unlike present day Western society which is more oriented toward the individual and individual freedom, the Biblical society was more oriented towards the community. These feast and celebration gave the people a sense of a common heritage. It constantly reminded them that they were called by the same God, for the same purpose, and their destiny was tied together in Yahweh. It also reminded them that the moment they forgot their common heritage and destiny they would cease to exist. Second, these festivals kept them focused on the Covenant – the central binding force of Israel as a nation and Yahweh. These feast reminded them as soon they forgot the Covenant, the nation as a whole stood in danger of being eliminated. In fact, this did happen in when the Assyrians destroyed the Northern Kingdom in 722 BC and Babylon destroyed Judah in 587 BC.

Christianity continues to be a community based faith. The Sacraments are more than anything else community celebrations that tie us to God and to the community that professes its faith in Christ. Baptism incorporates us into the faith community, the Eucharist brings us into communion with the Body of Christ, the sacrament of reconciliation celebrates an individual's reconciliation both with God and the community, Confirmation gives us the grace to be committed members of our faith community, Matrimony forms couples into a community (family) Priesthood prepares one for the service of the community, and Anointing of the Sick restores our health back so that we can once again participate in the life of the faith community.

In this sense, Christianity and individualism are incompatible. People who say that they can be good Christians at home do not understand the entire Christian reality. God calls a people to himself; and if individuals are called it is only the service of the community and not for their own sake. Let us recommit ourselves to our family and parish communities (no matter what is strengths and weaknesses) and in the sacramental celebration and feasts find our common identity and the Body of Christ.