In today’s First Reading from Isaiah, we hear something similar to that said in the Mass: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!”
I am currently participating in a church group reviewing Dr. Edward Sri’s “A Biblical Walk Through the Mass”. I highly encourage everyone to look at this book (also available in a video companion format) to gain a deeper understanding of Christ’s sacrifice for us, which we re-enter during every Mass.
As we again see in today’s Gospel, we must continually recognize that Christ died for our sins and rose. Through our true faith in this, we can then preach the good news and help others to believe, being “Fishers of Men” as the Apostles were 2000 years ago.
The Church continues to live today, and the Mass is the epitome of our relationship with the living Christ. We are not condemned by our sins, as Isaiah says, ““See, now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged.” Rather, we are saved by His eternal grace, His Divine Mercy, if only we come to proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior.
Jesus is the epitome of the Word and He evangelizes through the Disciples, sharing His message of love for all people. He asks us to do the same, though this again may be a formidable task for us if we are not truly dedicated to His teachings. Fear and distraction may often offset us from following His instruction. May we pray for His guidance for strength to act as the Apostles did, having inspiration and living in the joy of His peace, which is all glorious and eternal. We can then truly unite ourselves in Christ answering as Isaiah did, “Here I am,” I said; “send me!”.
Dr. Alexis Dallara-Marsh is a board-certified neurologist who practices in Bergen County, NJ. She is a wife to her best friend, Akeem, and a mother of two little ones on Earth and two others in heaven above.
Feature Image Credit: German Garcia, https://www.cathopic.com/photo/13282-barca-orilla
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