The Sacredness of the Body in Christ’s Redemption – Sep 06 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr. Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Sep 06, 2025, where he explains how God reconciles humanity through Christ’s sacrifice, urging perseverance in faith.

Father delves deeply into St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians, particularly focusing on how humanity, once alienated from God due to evil deeds, is reconciled through Christ’s sacrifice as described in 'Colossians 1:21-22'. He explains that our hostility toward God, rooted in our thoughts and actions, is not met with rejection but with divine love and mercy. Father highlights St. Paul’s emphasis on the physicality of Christ’s body in 'Colossians 1:22', countering the early heresy of Gnosticism, which denied the reality of Jesus’s human form. He draws a parallel to modern gender ideologies, labeling them as a new form of Gnosticism that disregards the body’s sacredness. Referencing 'Isaiah 53:6', 'Romans 8:7', 'Ephesians 4:17-18', 'Romans 1:18', 'Romans 12:1', 'Colossians 1:24', and '1 Corinthians 6:17', Father illustrates the biblical foundation for understanding our union with Christ in both spirit and body. He urges believers to offer themselves as living sacrifices, uniting their sufferings with Christ’s at Mass, which He describes as a continuation of Christ’s altar on the cross. Finally, citing 'Colossians 1:23', Father stresses the importance of persevering in faith to avoid straying from God’s truth, encouraging a renewed commitment through the intercession of Our Lady to become more like Her and Her Son.

For Further Reading

Colossians 1:21-22 - NAB - Reconciliation through Christ’s sacrifice - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/1?21
Isaiah 53:6 - NAB - Sheep gone astray from God - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/53?6
Romans 8:7 - NAB - Hostility of the fleshly mind - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/8?7
Ephesians 4:17-18 - NAB - Gentiles’ futility in mind - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/4?17
Romans 1:18 - NAB - Wrath against ungodliness revealed - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/1?18
Catechism of the Catholic Church #456 - The Incarnation’s importance - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a3p1.htm#456
Catechism of the Catholic Church #1366 - Sacrifice of the Mass - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a3.htm#1366
Catechism of the Catholic Church #1992 - Justification through Christ’s sacrifice - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c3a2.htm#1992
Catholic Answers - God’s Love for You - https://www.catholic.com/tract/gods-love-for-you

Ave Maria!

Mass: Saturday 22nd Week of Ordinary Time - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/090625.cfm
1st: col 1:21-23
Resp: psa 54:3-4, 6, 8
Gsp: luk 6:1-5

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1492

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