From death comes new life — the early church was built upon that

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the daily readings, for Tuesday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

+ Well, this first stage, you might say, of the early church was beginning to define its leadership and structure.

We know that we are not looking at modern day descriptions of priests and bishops, and partly simply because bishops are not married several times, let alone once — at least not in the Roman Catholic Church.

Although that striking difference between then and now is notable. Even more notable is the “job description” and the “list of qualifications.”

The expectations of personal behavior were lengthy, specific, demanding, and of high standard even down to the familial detail: “He must manage his own household well, keeping his children under control with perfect dignity.”

One guesses that this is a pretty good description of the famous Latin phrase: Nemo dat quod non habet — literally, “no one can give what they do not have.”

Paul certainly was doing his part to build up the church as a community of faith that was respectable, respected, and gave quality of life to its members.

The church was to truly be a community of love and goodness.

He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”

+ One can see where the early church and the disciples received such a model and such a good example from the person of Jesus himself.

Filled with compassion. Easily moved to pity. A pulsating heart of love. Ready to jump into action and to leave a situation better than how he found it.

And in this extreme situation, we encounter a widow walking the death procession carrying her now dead only son — a completely heartbreaking moment rendering a hopeless future for this woman.

Pity. Mercy. Love. Compassion. Action. Touching the coffin and stopping, therefore, the funeral procession he spoke: “Young man, I tell you, rise!”

And he did. What awful words. From death he brought life. And he does it and he will do it, surely, even today for all of us who believe.

There are so many ways to see and experience death; the physical kind is only one. And we hope and expect that Jesus the Christ speaks such love to all of us, always.

Paul understood that; the early church was built upon that.

Today, more than 2,000 years later, we continue to believe and to preach and to experience the same Lord and the same love and the same life.

Truly “God has visited his people,” and we dignify that statement as we continue to see, hear, and live that in and among us today.

Father Perry Dean Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com.