Child

Child.

That's our first title, one we're given even before we're born.

Our mothers are with child.

Then we go on to collect dozens, maybe hundreds, of roles and titles.

Family titles like:

Son, Daughter, Sister, Brother, Mother, Father, Aunt and Uncle.

Broader social titles like: 

Friend, Teacher, Leader, Doctor, Student, Member and Consumer.

The list goes on and on.

Our reading from Acts today recounts the creation of a new role in the Church.

It required the selection of men filled with wisdom and Spirit.

And what title did they give these wise, holy men?

Deacon!

Usually-humble deacon.

Whatever our titles, common or grand, we are specially-blessed people.

All of us here.

As Peter says, We are a chosen race,

A royal priesthood,

A holy nation,

God's own people.

(In that sense, the Church has many millions of women priests.)

Every one of us who is baptized is a member of the general priesthood.

Baptism confers that title on us.

We've all had the words pronounced over us:

As Christ was anointed priest, prophet and king,

So may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life.

That's three more titles for each of us.

And three more sets of responsibilities.

At this very moment, we're all fulfilling our specific duty as members of that priesthood.

We're actively participating in the celebration of the Mass.

We're praying and giving honor to God.

Along with our many titles come many opportunities for reward.

And today's Gospel speaks of the greatest of those rewards.

It's a sad occasion, but Jesus packs it full of Good News.

He's about to enter into his passion and death.

He's bidding farewell to his apostles.

He's trying to comfort and assure them.

And he directs his words not only to the apostles, but to us as well.

Do not let your hearts be troubled.

I am going to the Father.

In my Father's house there are many dwelling places.

I am going to prepare a place for you.

I will come back again and take you to myself.

The rest of his message is also for us.

For his chosen, holy people.

Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do.

Those words are a directive

They set out our mission—to imitate Jesus—to do what he did.

The good deeds and even the miracles.

They're also an assurance.

The power to do what he did will be within our reach.

As we're called to the many roles and titles of our lives,

He's available to guide us on our mission.

And hopefully we'll call on him.

And we'll do our best to meet our responsibilities in each of our many roles.

To fulfill each title, great or small.

And to do it in such a way that we are indeed doing the works that Jesus did.

Doing them oit of love of God and neighbor.
Hopefully we'll strive to be worthy of that heavenly reward.

That striving should be the chief focus of our lives.
But in the end, our striving will never be enough to earn that reward.

It's just not something we can earn an entitlement to.

As important as our own efforts are, they can't provide any assurance of heaven.
Our greatest assurance comes from somewhere else.
It comes from that extravagant gift we repeatedly noted in today's Psalm.

Lord let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

And the chief title that draws that mercy to us is the simplest one.

The one we all started with.

Every one of us here, and everyone else.

Child.

Child of God.

 5th Sunday of  Easter

Jn 14:1-12          Read this Scripture @usccb.org