Supreme Inclusion

In this Sunday's second reading-Paul's letter to the early Christians in Rome (chapter 10, verses 5 to 15)-we find an incredibly hopeful statement. In a society where "inclusion" has become a buzz-word but is a not always a "buzz-reality", we hear about true inclusion, about supreme inclusion.

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
 
How refreshing: in Christ, there are no distinctions. How refreshing for us, who yearn for inclusion, in a society where we maintain distinctions, in a society where we maintain the tiresome social and political practice of identity categories, with their rigid definitions. That ultimately there be no distinctions is based on the truth that "God is the king of all the earth"(Psalm 47:7), God, "the riches of whose goodness and mercy are inexhaustible" (St. Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on the Letter to the Romans).
 
How refreshing, yet how demanding. This requires that we hoist ourselves to the divine life. Humanly speaking, there are certain distinctions. They need not be hard and rigid and they certainly need not separate us. In fact, they ought serve mutually to enrich us. But, it is only in Christ that we are truly one. We are joined to one another by grace, in a way that transcends all categories. But, we must choose, each day, to live there.
 
One with you in Christ,

​Fr. Dominique
Rector   ​