Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 10-26-12

One Bread, One Body

<< Friday, October 26, 2012 >>

Ephesians 4:1-6
View Readings

Psalm 24:1-6

Luke 12:54-59

DISMEMBERING

"There is but one body and one Spirit, just as there is but one hope given all of you by your call. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all." —Ephesians 4:4-6

The division of the Christian Church into thousands of denominations is directly opposed to God's will. Jesus prays that we would all be one as He and the Father are one (Jn 17:21). Yet we have resigned ourselves to this scandal of division for hundreds of years. We have become accustomed to Christians' willful disobedience to God. We feel helpless to do anything about our divisions. At best, we pray sporadically that the Lord may miraculously intervene and restore unity to His Church.

We must do more than pray. Unity has its origin in the Spirit but is preserved by our efforts (Eph 4:3). We must "make every effort" (Eph 4:3) "to live a life worthy of the calling" (Eph 4:1) we have received, "with perfect humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another lovingly" (Eph 4:2). Are we making "every effort" if we don't even talk or pray with our "separated brethren"? Are we as concerned about this problem as if our fingers, hands, or arms were cut off from our bodies? Will we tolerate the dismembering of Christ's body or will we do something?

The Lord is doing something about the condition of His Body. Seek His will and obey Him.

Prayer: Father, I'm sorry for my part in breaking up Your family by sin and apathy. Forgive me.

Promise: "He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, a reward from God his Savior. Such is the race that seeks for Him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob." —Ps 24:5-6

Praise: Louise led her kidnapper to give his life to Jesus. He felt Jesus take away the hatred from his life.

One Bread, One Body

<< Friday, October 26, 2012 >>

Ephesians 4:1-6
View Readings

Psalm 24:1-6

Luke 12:54-59

DISMEMBERING

"There is but one body and one Spirit, just as there is but one hope given all of you by your call. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all." —Ephesians 4:4-6

The division of the Christian Church into thousands of denominations is directly opposed to God's will. Jesus prays that we would all be one as He and the Father are one (Jn 17:21). Yet we have resigned ourselves to this scandal of division for hundreds of years. We have become accustomed to Christians' willful disobedience to God. We feel helpless to do anything about our divisions. At best, we pray sporadically that the Lord may miraculously intervene and restore unity to His Church.

We must do more than pray. Unity has its origin in the Spirit but is preserved by our efforts (Eph 4:3). We must "make every effort" (Eph 4:3) "to live a life worthy of the calling" (Eph 4:1) we have received, "with perfect humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another lovingly" (Eph 4:2). Are we making "every effort" if we don't even talk or pray with our "separated brethren"? Are we as concerned about this problem as if our fingers, hands, or arms were cut off from our bodies? Will we tolerate the dismembering of Christ's body or will we do something?

The Lord is doing something about the condition of His Body. Seek His will and obey Him.

Prayer: Father, I'm sorry for my part in breaking up Your family by sin and apathy. Forgive me.

Promise: "He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, a reward from God his Savior. Such is the race that seeks for Him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob." —Ps 24:5-6

Praise: Louise led her kidnapper to give his life to Jesus. He felt Jesus take away the hatred from his life.

PRAYER FOR THE UNBORN CHILD

Almighty God, our Father, you who have given us life and intended us to have it forever, grant us your blessings.
Enlighten our minds to an awareness and to a renewed conviction that all human life is sacred because it is created
in your image and likeness. Help us to teach by word and the example of our lives that life occupies the first place,
that human life is precious because it is the gift of God whose love is infinite. Give us the strength to defend human life
against every influence or action that threatens or weakens it, as well as the strength to make every life more human
in all its aspects.

Give us the grace...

When the sacredness of life before birth is attacked, to stand up and proclaim that no one ever has the authority
to destroy unborn life.

When a child is described as a burden or is looked upon only as a means to satisfy an emotional need, to stand up
and insist that every child is a unique and unrepeatable gift of God, a gift of God with a right to a loving and united family.

When the institution of marriage is abandoned to human selfishness or reduced to a temporary conditional arrangement
that can easily be terminated, to stand up and affirm the indissolubility of the marriage bond.

When the value of the family is threatened because of social and economic pressure, to stand up and reaffirm that the family is necessary
not only for the private good of every person, but also for the common good of every society, nation and state.

When freedom is used to dominate the weak, to squander natural resources and energy, to deny basic necessities to people,
to stand up and affirm the demands of justice and social love.

Almighty Father, give us courage to proclaim the supreme dignity of all human life and to demand that society itself give its protection.
We ask this in your name, through the redemptive act of your Son and in the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

(From Pope John Paul II's homily of October 7, 1979.)