Commentary on the Gospel of
The importance of community shines through the readings today. The Letter to the Hebrews recounts the ancestors of the Jewish people, their accomplishments and their struggles. In the Gospel, Jesus’ last instruction to the man he has healed is to return to his community.
We too are called to community. Building and maintaining that community seems more challenging every day. We substitute digital connections for real ones. We prioritize individualism and treat self-sufficiency as a goal. The practice of mutual aid and community organization – neighbors helping neighbors – seems to be a thing of the past. We are even more distant from people who are geographically distant or who are part of different social, religious, cultural, or economic groups. That distance is not the reality to which Jesus calls us. We are called to become one body, to care for our brothers and sisters – to reach out in love, service, and concern. Like the man Jesus healed, we can share with others the good news of Jesus that has transformed our lives.
