COMMUNIO

Are we close? To whom are you close?

"Blood is thicker than water."  This saying emphasizes that our blood relations are more important than our affiliations made with other people. Our parents and siblings are far more significant than our friends as the same blood runs through our veins. We are closer to our biological families more than our other families.  Through our blood relations, we form our family and our community.

Jesus challenges this belief as he asks:  "Who is my mother?  Who are my brothers?" He presents an answer to his question: "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother." He presents to us a greater bond more than water, more than blood. Our obedience to the will of the father is the thickest among our relations, more than blood, more than water. By becoming obedient children of God, we form a community greater than our biological family and friends; we form the Church of Christ; the communion of disciples. Isn't this what we all desire; to belong to a community? More than belonging to a particular family we long to be with more people with whom we are of one mind and one heart in God.

In the animal kingdom, animals often stick with species that will enable them to survive. And so it is for us. To survive our journey, live out our purpose in life and fulfill our mission, we stay close to persons that can be of help to us. Our closeness forms a community.

In the desire of Jesus for us to be in heaven with God, He founded a communio; the Church, through which we can stick together and help one another as brothers and sisters to arrive in our destiny (heaven). Thus, as a Church, as a community, we stay close with each other, that we may keep warm when coldness strikes in our faith and journey, that we may be strengthened by other (and most especially by God) when we feel weak. Embers keep aflame if they stick together. Broomsticks are more effective if they are bonded together.

In our community, the Church, what keeps us close? What keeps us together? It is our desire to follow Jesus; to follow the will of the Father. This is the bond that is greater than blood and water. As we draw closer to Jesus, we draw also closer to one another, as we form one heart and one mind towards God. As we desire to belong to God and to His community, God will take care of us as He took care of the Israelites against the Egyptians. As we obey God, he will protect us. The good news is, in this family, in this community, in this Church, it is God who takes the initiative for us to be closer to Him. More than us moving towards Him, God makes the first move that He may be closer to us and that we may be closest to Him.