Let us first read the words of St. Peter in his letter to the early Christian communities, particularly the second chapter before moving on to the homily.

In this chapter, the Apostle Peter reminds us of our identity as chosen and precious stones in God’s spiritual house. In the first part of the chapter, Peter instructs us to rid ourselves of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander, and to instead crave pure spiritual milk, so that we may grow up in our salvation. As Catholics, we are called to live lives of purity, honesty, and love, and to constantly seek spiritual nourishment through prayer, study, and the Sacraments. Peter doesn’t just tell us to be good and pure; he reminds us of the reason why we should strive for holiness. We are called to be a holy people because we are God’s own possession. We have been chosen by God to be part of His spiritual house, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Him through Jesus Christ.

Brothers and sisters, we are not just living our lives for our own sake, or for the sake of worldly pleasures or material success. We are living our lives for God, and we are part of His divine plan for the world. We have a purpose and a mission, and that is to bring the light of Christ to the world, to spread His love and mercy, and to help build up the Church as the tabernacle of God among us.

St. Peter also reminds us that this mission is not an easy one. We will face hardships, persecution, and suffering, just as Christ did. And yet, we are called to persevere, to hold fast to our faith, and to trust in God’s grace and mercy. We are not alone in our struggles, for Christ is with us, and so are our brothers and sisters in the faith.

Let us remember that we are chosen and precious stones in God’s spiritual house, called to a life of holiness and mission. Let us rid ourselves of all that is not of God, and let us crave pure spiritual milk, so that we may grow in our faith. And let us always trust in God’s grace and mercy, even in the midst of trials and difficulties.

God bless you,
Fr. Charles