3rd Week in Ordinary Time
We have been consecrated through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 10:10)
You’ve no doubt heard the beautiful sound of a violin playing in an orchestra. It’s amazing, isn’t it? That violin started out as tree in a forest, perhaps maple or spruce. Then it was cut down and turned into lumber. Then a craftsman got to work on it. All the pieces had to be cut, sawn, chiseled, bent, and glued into place. The sides, ribs, back, top, and neck all had to be shaped just right so that it would resonate properly. Imagine all the care that went into making just this one instrument!
Now think about the word “consecrated” in today’s reading. To be consecrated means to be set apart, to be fitted for a special purpose. You could say that like that violin, you have been set apart for God’s purpose and for his glory. Now, unlike that violin, which has already been created, you are still being formed and shaped by God—and you will be until the day when you finally see Jesus face-to-face.
Every time we respond to God’s craftsmanship, we are giving him another opportunity to shape us for his purposes. These opportunities come to us all the time: when we say no to the temptation to shout at a rude driver or to eat that extra slice of pizza. When we drop something we are doing to go help someone else. These seemingly minor decisions are often far more important than we think. Each one bends us a little bit more. Each one chisels us a little bit more. Each one enables us to reflect our perfect Maker a little bit more.
God has a beautiful vision of you. He never gives up on you. You continue to be a work in progress because God’s plan is to make you into a saint. As Pope Benedict XVI has said, “You were made for greatness!” And that is possible as you keep inviting God, the Master Craftsman, to form you and shape you. Never forget that “the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
“Lord, help me to surrender to you today so that I can live for your glory.”
Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 10-11
Mark 3:31-35
