Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord;
whoever remains in me will bear much fruit. JN 15:4A, 5B
ACTS 15:1-6
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
Holy Mother Church, as the early Church, reveals to us today, is a community, a communion of believers whose hierarchy exists to serve them, to care for them, and to walk with them. She is tender, compassionate, and makes no unnecessary demands on her children as Paul and Barnabas demonstrate so clearly. They stand solidly with the new converts and are prepared to defend their stand with the Apostles in Jerusalem.
The first Church council took place when Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem to discuss this matter with the Apostles there. They did not break off and form their own church when they dissented with the others but took the problem to Peter and the other Apostles to find an agreeable, valid solution for all.
This has always been the way of the Church for we are one Body in You. Should the members of the Church breakaway at every dissent, as many have found to their destruction, they would be cut off from You and soon would wither away and die.
PSALM 122:1-5
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
We thank and praise the Father for His wisdom in giving us the Church with You as its Cornerstone, and with Peter as its Rock on which she is built. We are one in You and we are alive in You. Apart from You we are nothing.
We rejoice Beloved because even though our churches are closed. We are alive, we are joyful, and we are united. The Church has always gone through difficult times from the time she was born from Your side and this is one of them. As long as we are one with You we will be nourished by Your life and grow stronger and more fruitful. This is the work of the Holy Spirit and we rejoice.
JOHN 15:1-8
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
This is the time of pruning and painful though it is we will thrive, grow, and bear good fruit. Let us heed Your warning though that apart from You we can do nothing. No matter how sturdy a branch is once it is lopped off from You, the true Vine, it will wither away and die.
During this time of our separation from our parishes, we are united. The Church offers us numerous ways of staying close to her in spirit and as long as we remain in union with You, Beloved, You will nurture us, and we will thrive and grow.
During this time of temporary exile, we must remain ever more united to You through Your Word, through Spiritual Communion, and through prayer and fellowship with our family members. If we use this time well You promise that we can ask for whatever we want and it will be done for us. But cut off from You we will be deadwood, fit for nothing but to be gathered up and thrown into the fire to be burned.
No comments:
Post a Comment