A single point of origin

The first readings for weekday masses of ordinary time are arranged in what is called "lectio continuo"(continuous reading); that is to say, we read our way through various books of the bible. These first weeks ordinary time this year we are reading the Letter to the Hebrews. It is worth noting that it is not called the Letter of Paul to the Hebrews.

Today we are reminded of the foundational truth in our understanding of how the world is constructed. "He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin."

It seems that we must constantly struggle against the centrifugal forces in ourselves and our world that seek to fracture that original unity.

It is a truth that we know in our inmost being but still find hard to keep in the forefront of our minds in our daily decision-making.

Tragedies like Tucson help for a while, but it is only by deliberate choice that we turn a moment of unity into a lifestyle.