When Judas had left them, Jesus said,
“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
If God is glorified in him,
God will also glorify him in himself,
and God will glorify him at once.
My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.
I give you a new commandment: love one another.
As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I like to visit Churches when I travel. One of the most fascinating churches I have visited is San Stefano Rotundo. This unique building claims to be the first purpose-built Christian Church in Rome; its design speaks volumes about the community’s understanding of themselves and their worship. The unique thing is that this Church is round, supported by columns, and the altar at its center. People often think of this design as belonging to the sixties, but this Church is from the 5th century. The design was inspired by today’s reading from the book of revelations.

I also saw the holy city, a New Jerusalem,

and God himself will always be with them as their God.

Their design attempts to represent heaven, the New Jerusalem. The Lamb of God is at the center, worshipped, surrounded by the saints. The saints are we Christians; this doesn’t mean we are perfect but rather the title describes our destination, our hope. When these early Christians gathered, they believed they gathered around Christ, the living God. Indeed they believed this was a Divine Liturgy celebrated by Christ himself. The priest acted in the person of Christ.

Here in our parish, we have two beautiful churches. Although the architecture is different, our beliefs are the same as our ancestors in the faith. For example, the sanctuary represents heaven, the aisle of our journey through life. We have the same hope as the ancients; we want to reach Heaven, the New Jerusalem and dwell with God. Indeed we believe that he dwells with us today.

What we shall one-day experience face to face in heaven, we experience today through signs and symbols. Christ, priest and victim, the Lamb of God, is present here, hidden under bread and wine signs. In the 5th century, our ancient ancestor believed that the living God became present to them on the altar during mass. They believed that saints surrounded them during the mass and that Heaven and Earth me. We share that same faith today. 

As we gather today, we gather in communion with members of the Church throughout the world; we also gather with those who have gone before us. Together with the Angels and saints, we worship the living God who dwells with us. Today in Eucharist, we glimpse heaven.

With Love and Blessings,

Fr Damian

Deacon Ed Jennings frequently prays that God put someone in front of us each day who He wants us to help.  This video is an interesting and personal sermon by Bishop  Barron about loving those who God puts into our lives - not just those who are easy to love.