3 April 2027 · Syro-Malankara Rite
Open in the Daily Word appAlso: Latin Rite · Syro-Malabar Rite · മലയാളം
“Christ, however, was faithful over God’s house as a son, and we are his house if we hold firm the confidence and the pride that belong to hope.” Hebrews 3:6
Christ is risen! On the last day of Hevoro week the Letter to the Hebrews invites us to look steadily at Jesus: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, holy partners in a heavenly calling, consider that Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, was faithful to the one who appointed him.” Two titles are joined here. Jesus is the apostle, the one sent from the Father to us; and he is the high priest, the one who goes from us to the Father, carrying our humanity into the sanctuary of heaven. In his Death and Resurrection both movements are complete. The letter then compares him with Moses, whom God himself had praised: “Not so with my servant Moses; he is entrusted with all my house” (Numbers 12:7). Hebrews honors Moses fully; he “was faithful in all God’s house as a servant.” But Jesus “is worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.” Moses served inside the house; Christ is the Son over the house, and with the Father he is its builder. The comparison is not a contest between two faiths. It is the joy of the Church that the faithfulness of Moses finds its fulfillment in the faithfulness of the Son.
And what is this house? “We are his house if we hold firm the confidence and the pride that belong to hope.” The house of God is not first of all a building of stone, but the people whom the risen Lord gathers. St Augustine told his people at the dedication of a church that the building is the house of our prayers, but we ourselves are the house of God, being built in this life and dedicated at the end of time (in substance). The Gospel shows how easily we forget this. John, the beloved disciple, reports with some pride: “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” Jesus answers: “Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you.” The house of God is larger than our little circle. Moses had once answered Joshua in the same spirit when two men prophesied outside the camp: “Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets!” (Numbers 11:29). The Second Vatican Council teaches that many elements of sanctification and truth are found outside the visible structure of the Catholic Church, and that they belong by right to the one Church of Christ (Unitatis Redintegratio 3; Lumen Gentium 8). We hold the fullness of the faith with gratitude, and we rejoice in every good done in the name of Jesus.
How do we close Hevoro week? Thank God today for the house he is building: your parish, your family, your prayer group, and the whole Church. Hold firm the confidence of hope. If the joy of Easter has already faded in you after a few days, ask the Lord to renew it before New Sunday. Look around for good that others are doing in Jesus' name, perhaps a neighboring parish of another Church, a youth group, a charity, and instead of competing, thank God and help them. Prepare for tomorrow's Holy Qurbono on New Sunday, when the risen Lord will say again to his disciples, “Peace be with you,” and Thomas will confess, “My Lord and my God!” If you can, go to confession today, so that you enter New Sunday with a clean heart.
Theme: “We are his house if we hold firm the confidence and the pride that belong to hope.”
On Saturday of Hevoro week: Jesus the apostle and high priest, the house of God that we are, and the generosity that rejoices in all good done in his name.
“Not so with my servant Moses; he is entrusted with all my house.” Numbers 12:7
“Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.” Hebrews 4:14
Apply: Spend five quiet minutes today simply looking at Jesus, in a crucifix or an icon of the Resurrection.
“Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1
“like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5
Apply: Do one thing this week that builds up your parish: a visit, a job done, a word of encouragement.
“Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit on them!” Numbers 11:29
“What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice.” Philippians 1:18
Apply: Thank God aloud for one good work done by people outside your own circle, and help it if you can.
Jesus is the apostle and high priest of our confession, the faithful Son over God's house.
We are his house, built together by hope and generous enough to rejoice in all good done in his name.
Take-home resolution: Close the white week by holding firm your hope, going to confession if you can, and coming to New Sunday ready to confess with Thomas, My Lord and my God.
Dear friends, Christ is risen! On this last day of Hevoro week the Letter to the Hebrews says: consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession (Hebrews 3:1). He is sent to us from the Father, and he goes for us to the Father.
Moses was faithful in God's house as a servant; Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And then a beautiful line: we are his house, if we hold firm the confidence and the pride that belong to hope (Hebrews 3:6). The Church is not first a building of stones; we are the house of God.
In the Gospel John wants to stop a man who casts out demons in Jesus' name, because he does not follow with us. Jesus says: Do not stop him; whoever is not against you is for you (Luke 9:50). The house of God is larger than our little circle. We hold the fullness of the faith with gratitude, and we rejoice in every good done in his name.
Tomorrow is New Sunday. Let us hold firm our hope, thank God for good done by others, go to confession if we can, and come ready to say with Thomas: My Lord and my God. Amen.
Children, Christ is risen! Do you know that you are God's house? Not a house made of bricks, but a house made of people who love Jesus. One day John tried to stop a man doing good in Jesus' name because he was not in their group. Jesus said: do not stop him! Jesus is happy whenever anyone does good. Who can you say thank you to today for doing something good?
Lord Jesus Christ, apostle and high priest of our confession, you were faithful to the Father who appointed you, and you are the Son over God's house. Make us your house: living stones, built together in faith, firm in the confidence and pride of hope. Deliver us from jealousy when others do good in your name, and enlarge our hearts to rejoice in every work of your Spirit. Prepare us for New Sunday, that with Thomas we may confess you, our Lord and our God. To you be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, for ever. Amen.