Castles and communities

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary take us in many different directions and perhaps there is a place in one of these directions which resonates with our unique person. This is one of the the themes which the verse from the Gospel of John evokes today (John 14.2) “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?*” Two of the paths presented today are inward contemplation and outward action. Friar Jude Winkler comments that the development of hierarchy in the Church was a gradual process which St Ignatius of Antioch notes saw the orders of bishop, priest and deacon being present at about 115 CE. Friar Jude describes the selection of the seven men described in the account from the Acts of the Apostles as response by the Apostles to an identified injustice to the widows and orphans of Greek origin. The Aramaic speaking Apostles need to build new ways to address the change in the Church to a place which attracted people both Jew and Gentile from more than one ethnic background. The outreach of the Church is described by Peter in his first letter to as building a spiritual house with Jesus as the cornerstone. The inhabitants of this house who will make up this royal priesthood and chosen people are not longer from one race or ethnic tradition. Carol Zuegner identifies with the desire of Philip in the Gospel of John to be more informed about the Way. Friar Jude reminds us that the early Church was known as followers of the Way. The Presence of Jesus reveals to us the nature of God.  A pilgrimage like the ancient walk along the Camino to Santiago de Compostela is described as both community building and an opportunity to travel within to the inner castles of the soul where Suzanne Guthrie leads us with the guidance of Thomas Merton and Teresa of Avila to the discovery of Christ within the deepest rooms of our soul where the Truth of the revelation our Life within God brings the rest of which St Francis proclaims ”Where there is rest and meditation, there is neither anxiety nor restlessness.