Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38 / Matthew 13:47-53
We are proud that we have a beautiful church. I am sure some of us remembered how the old church was like.
That old church gave way to this new church which was built about 10 years ago.
Indeed this new church maintained the holy atmosphere of the old church even though it is much bigger.
Yet regardless of whether it is new or old, big or small, any church must look like and feel like a church.
In the 1st reading, Moses built the tabernacle of the Lord as exactly as the Lord had directed him.
And the people can see and feel the presence of God in the tabernacle.
Yes it was the presence of the Lord that made the tabernacle holy, just as it is the presence of the Lord that makes a church holy.
Yet in the gospel, Jesus said that the kingdom of God is like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in a haul of all kinds.
So if the Church is the sign of the kingdom of God, then we must be prepared to see the Church filled with all sorts of people.
We pray that as we come before the holy presence of God in the Church, we will strive to be holy just as God is holy.
And may we bring this holiness to the world so that the presence of God can also be seen in the world.