How will catch the elephant lion? You probably assume that such a mountain of meat is simply invincible. In some parts of Africa, however, lions hunt in packs, isolate one of these monstrous animals from his herd, and thus can overpower him with several times the power. We, too, are the weakest and most vulnerable when we separate ourselves from our brothers and sisters in Christ. Throughout its history, God’s people were considered to belong to each other through shared prayer, keeping the Sabbath, or celebrating holidays and festivities in the temple.
However, the faithful to whom this letter was addressed were strongly tempted to go it alone and neglect the Eucharistic service and common prayer, which was supposed to be a regular part of their lives. And so the author challenges readers: “Let’s be afraid of love and good deeds… Let’s not leave our gatherings…, but encourage ourselves” (Hebr 10, 24 – 25). As such, Christianity is not destined to live in isolation. We are all members of the body of Christ, and only through this body does accurate blessing flow. The more we separate from each other, the more vulnerable and prone we are to temptation. Without the testimony of fellow believers, our perspective can be blurred, and we can lose sight of everything that God has already done for us in our lives.
After all, even the silent testimony of families or individuals at Sunday holy masses speak, raise our hearts, and encourage us in the constant search for the Lord. St John Chrysostom said: “You cannot pray at home as much as in the church community… in the unity of mind, in a harmony of souls, in a bond of love, in the prayers of the priest.” Other church community members encourage us, but we can do the same for them. Let’s focus on what happens when we celebrate the Eucharist. Nothing compares to the blessing of true fraternal fellowship. Through the gathering of believers, the Lord abundantly gives blessings – even eternal life (Ž 133, 3).