Wednesday of the
Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
(I Timothy 3:14-16; Luke 7:31-35)
Cardinal Avery Dulles once wrote a book that must have
sold a million copies. Titled Models of the Church the book described
alternative ways to understand the Church.
Sacrament, servant, and herald are just three of the images he
used. In today’s first reading the
writer gives two others.
The Church is termed “the household of God.” Its members belong to God’s family by virtue
of their baptism. They are in a process
of spiritual growth to become like their heavenly Father. The Church is also called a “pillar and
foundation of truth.” This metaphor
conveys permanence of doctrine in a world where truth seems to be relative to
circumstances. The reading exhorts the
contemplation of Jesus, who is named “the mystery of devotion.” Church members find in him their model for living.
It is said now that the young do not want to commit themselves
to anything. In other words, they do not
want to devote time and effort to anyone or anything but themselves .
They want to stand aloof and to “be cool.” Doing so, they might be noticed and perhaps admired. However, they might as well miss
something. They might not be “taken up in glory”
