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b'(Acts 6:1-7;\\xa0\\xa0 Ps.33:1-2,4-5,18-19,22;\\xa0\\xa0 1Pt.2:4-9;\\xa0\\xa0 Jn.14:1-12) \\xa0 \\u201cLet yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.\\u201d \\xa0 Peter tells us in his letter that we are \\u201ca chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of His own.\\u201d\\xa0 Quoting Scripture, he calls us to \\u201c\\u2018announce the praises\\u2019 of Him who called [us] out of darkness into His wonderful light.\\u201d\\xa0 The house we become, the priests we are, and the sacrifices we offer are evident throughout our readings today. First, in our gospel Jesus tells the disciples very directly, \\u201cIn my Father\\u2019s house there are many dwelling places\\u201d and that He is going \\u201cto prepare a place\\u201d for them, and so for us, there.\\xa0 And even now He draws us to that place He is with the Father, each to our own room, each with his own ministry.\\xa0 For, second, the priesthood all share in Christ is pictured in our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles.\\xa0 As the community of disciples grows in Jerusalem, so do the functions prescribed to its members.\\xa0 It becomes clear that the Twelve and their successors are to \\u201cdevote themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word,\\u201d so in order to care for the particular concerns surrounding such matters as the daily distribution of food, they ordain \\u201crespectable men\\u201d to \\u201cserve at table,\\u201d thus instituting the ministry of the deacon.\\xa0 And, finally, the spiritual sacrifices all offer to God are sung of by David in our psalm: \\u201cExult, you just, in the Lord; praise from the upright is fitting.\\u201d\\xa0 As this humble servant \\u201cgive[s] thanks to the Lord on the harp\\u201d placed in His hands by God, so all have their place in the kingdom founded on Jesus; all have their lives to offer in praise of God by the instruments He provides. \\u201cWhoever believes in me will do the works I do.\\u201d\\xa0 Yes, the Lord\\u2019s works in great abundance are given to us to accomplish through Him who now sits with the Father.\\xa0 The way to His heavenly kingdom has been made clear by the ministry and the sacrifice of Jesus, and we must follow in His footsteps, for we are now the Body of Christ here on this earth.\\xa0 In Him and through Him we offer ourselves and all we do to draw all to the House which He prepares in light, to proclaim with our beings that \\u201cof the kindness of the Lord the earth is full.\\u201d\\xa0 Today we are encouraged to hear that \\u201ceven a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith,\\u201d that the priests of the Old Covenant were now finding themselves true priests under the New.\\xa0 And so we should realize the manner in which we are all called to service in the Temple of the Lord as members of His own Body, giving praise to the Father of us all through His only Son. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Blood in My Palate" from Loving Spirit, third album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, let us live in your Son and so in you that we might do your works in this world and praise you forever in Heaven. YHWH, let us be built into and grow as the Body of your Son.\\xa0 Make us a royal priesthood, a holy nation \\u2013 your Church.\\xa0 Into your House let us come and dwell, eternally praising your Name. Jesus is in you and you are in Jesus, and those who believe in Him and so in you become one with Him, and so with you, dearest LORD and God.\\xa0 O Father in Heaven, to Heaven let us come, to oneness with you.\\xa0 Let us do your works on earth and so find our way to your kingdom. Why should we be troubled when we have the promise from Jesus that He prepares a place for us?\\xa0 Why should we fear when He is near in the power of the Holy Spirit?\\xa0 Let us follow closely the way He leads, that indeed we might exult in your presence forever.'