Our Venerable Father Sisoes the Great (c. 429)
Romans 15:7-16; Matthew 12:38-45
Read Romans 15:7-16
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
During my seminary formation, every second Saturday, we would attend Great Vespers at the local Ukrainian Catholic parish. There to greet you on almost every Saturday was a man named Tim. I do not know much about him except for 1) he would welcome you, hand you a book and the propers and 2) he spoke loudly. It didn’t matter if you were a regular or this was your first time, Tim always welcomed you to the Church.
St. Paul reminds us, in the very first line of today’s reading, of our Christian obligation to welcome those who Christ sends: “Therefore receive one another just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God
St. Cyril of Alexandria, commenting on this very first line, says: “We are all one body and members one of another. Christ obliges us to be united with one another in the bonds of charity.”
Next time you see an unfamiliar face in Church, welcome them to Church. Such a simple act will go a long way to building the Kingdom of God and growing the body of Christ.