{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Homilies from the National Shrine","title":"One Shepherd, One Fold: The Unity of the Church - Fr. Matthew Tomeny | 3/28/26","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":997,"description":"The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032826.cfmJesus no longer walked about in public, hiding behind the veil because the people of God were not spiritually seeing Him. They were still viewing reality with worldly, materialistic eyes. The chief priests and Pharisees feared that if everyone proclaimed Jesus King, the Romans would crush their nation and take away their land. Ironically, they were partially correct; in 70 A.D., the temple was destroyed, and the Jews were dispersed. Yet, Jesus was offering a way out of this fear by establishing not a worldly kingdom, but a spiritual one that would bring true peace by grafting all nations into the Tree of Jesse.Jesus came to gather the dispersed children of God—not just the Israelites, but all who are predestined for heaven. He established a new Israel, founded not on the twelve tribes of old, but on the twelve Apostles. As seen in Revelation, the walls of the heavenly Jerusalem rest on twelve foundation stones bearing the names of the Apostles. This foundation endures forever. Through the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord promised a new Exodus, gathering His people from all nations to make them one nation with one prince: Christ, the Son of David. He is the one Shepherd for them all.In the Old Testament, when a king left on a mission, he gave his keys to his steward. Jesus gave the keys to the kingdom of heaven to His steward, Peter, the Rock upon which the Church is built. Peter’s successor, the Pope, and the successors of the Apostles, the bishops, continue to shepherd the faithful. There is to be no division. Never again shall there be two nations or two kingdoms. The Church is one, completely united in the Holy Spirit. Just as a soul animates a body, the Holy Spirit unites the many members of the Church. When members are paralyzed by mortal sin, they hang limply, but they can be cured through repentance and confession.Despite this divine design, divisions persist. Since the Protestant...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/RyS-C2ZLvo8KH5NqfI6NL8IYJ95DYB9GdIPXRzHWFC4/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzE3MzgyLzE2Mjc2/NTE3MjQtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}