Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time ‘C’

We hear it all the time, sometimes even out of our own mouths: “He’s not one of us,” or “She doesn’t belong.” These feelings can be based on anything - differences in religion, politics, race, language, culture, or even sports teams and the schools we’ve attended. But at the heart of it, these words often carry a sense of “I’m better than you,” or “We are the real insiders.” 

Both Isaiah and Jesus challenge this mindset. In their times, some people felt certain they were automatically “in” with God, just because of their religion or background, and that everyone else was excluded. Isaiah imagines a time when all people, from every nation and background, are welcomed to worship together in Jerusalem. No one will be left out of God’s family. 

Jesus also warns his listeners that just knowing about him or having a little bit of contact isn’t enough to guarantee a close relationship with God. Saying, “I once ate with Jesus,” isn’t the same as living out His teachings. The message is clear: being “one of us” in God’s eyes isn’t about being in the right club, background, or tradition - it’s about living a life that seeks God and loves others. 

What does this mean for us? It’s still easy to fall into the trap of believing, deep down, that certain people “are not one of us” and therefore don’t really belong or deserve God’s love the way we do. But Jesus flips this idea upside down. He makes it very clear that no one is outside the reach of God’s mercy and welcome - not by birth, background, behavior, or affiliation. In fact, it was often the “insiders” who thought they had it all together that Jesus had to challenge the most. 

For us, the Mass and especially the sign of peace remind us of this radical unity. When we share the sign of peace, we’re not just performing a ritual - we’re showing, in a real way, that we are all part of one family, regardless of our backgrounds or differences. Maybe this Sunday, when you offer the sign of peace, you can look around and remember: “These people are all my brothers and sisters. We are all one in God’s love.” 

God’s love tears down our boundaries. No matter who people are or where they come from, they are never outside God’s invitation. We’re called to see everyone as “one of us” in the family of God.