July 21st, 2024 - Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Walls and barriers are not of God – they are human made. Christ has come for unity in the truth, for reconciliation among enemies, for charity in disagreements, for healing of divisions. As today’s gospel puts it, Jesus came to be the Shepherd of all the sheep of his flock and to include everybody in his saving love. He came not to scatter people but to gather them and bring them all into his Father’s Kingdom. Christians, of course, are called to follow his lead.  We are bridge builders and barrier busters, because Christ the Lord has come to break down dividing walls, and that is our noble task by his grace.