The Family Of The Church
This lovely song by Sister Sledge describes very well what we are called to be as Church of God, Holy and Catholic, Mystical Body of Christ. We are called to be Community, a fraternal gathering of brothers and sisters. We are called to be Family, the family of the Church.
We should learn and bear in mind that the two biggest structural basis and roots of the society are emotional and spiritual: the Family and the Faith. Knowing that and specifically for that reason the Evil one attacks these two basis in order to steal, kill and destroy the image and likeness of God that are each and every one of us.
Today we are going to briefly make some reflections on the spiritual root that is the faith. In the next post we are going to make some reflections on the emotional root that is the family. One root corroborate and complement another. They end and start in one another's place. We are called to be, as Saint John Paul II used to say, a Domestic Church. And today, as the Holy Spirit did inspire me, we are being called to be the Family of the Church.
BEING REAL MUCH MORE TIMES WE CAN THINK OF, THERE IS NO SPACE FOR GOD'S PRESENCE OR TRUE FAITH IN OUR HOMES, OUR FAMILIES. EVEN CHRISTIANS ARE BEING UP-BROUGHT IN A SECULAR MIDST, APART FROM THE RELIGION, APART FROM THE CHURCH. THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY FAMILIES ARE EACH TIME FURTHER APART, FULL OF HATRED, BRINGING DEAD EVERYWHERE.
Children, teenagers, young people and adults many and many times have no peace, no joy, no love, no happiness, no support, no friendship, no help, no human contact, no nothing inside their own homes. Trying to find some hope or forget about that people tend to go to the addictions (we did reflect about this subject offering a remedy to the addictions, to access it click here) that can lead to death or prison at times; tend to become instruments of the devil to destroy other people's families; and other times tend to commit suicide (we are going to talk about it in another time).
Thank God, there is hope for everyone, even for people who had problems within their homes, people who had very traumatic situations with their families and people who didn't have a family. Thank God because people just like myself can find a family full of love, full of support and care, full of freedom and faith, full of grace and forgiveness, full of peace and joy, full of whatever you can ever need in this life...
This wonderful and miraculous hope has a name and place. It is called Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, the Church of all families, the place where every human being is attracted to: the heart of Jesus Christ opened on the cross. That is the place where the Church comes from. If you haven't had tried that place yet, maybe this lines are being written especially for you so you know there is hope in this crazy journey called life.
Read and if you can do this experience now, listen the voice of the Son of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit that touches you now, saying this words:
"And when I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all people to myself." (John 12:32)
If you feel like you never found a place that is only yours, never found a place where you could be yourself, without caring about anything else, a place where you can be loved without being asked questions about who you are or about your past, get to know that this place does exist and it is the Heart of Jesus Christ (we are going to talk about this subject another time).
If you never felt loved so far or feel that to be loved you need to pretend to be something you are not, or need to give something else in exchange of 'love', or even don't believe in love anymore, I want to invite you to come to get to know the Catholic Church: she is the spouse of Christ, the expression of God's love for humanity.
I wasn't up-brought in a catholic family, didn't have christian values and wasn't taught respect or love for God or for the Church. In a certain time of my life I was forced to go to the Church at the age of 15, to take classes of, what we call in Brazil, Catechism. At this stage I learned then about what the Church is.
In the same year of 2006, I was inserted in the mystical body of Christ by the Baptism and received the other two sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. After that I become part of a charismatic group called Messiah of Peace, that taught me about love and received me in a way my original family couldn't do. It's about 12 years now I am a member of the Family of the Church, even though I am an unworthy one. It's not us who choose for it but God who chooses us!
In the same way as it happened to me, it happened to various other people... People who found in the Church a family, people who made the Church their family. And the Church is there for that as well. Obviously, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church states on the 846th paragraph, the Church is the boat necessary to the salvation of our souls, and it is a divine institution, but made of human parts. We are the visible components of the Church.
Talking about the Church, Saint Paul, being used as a Christ's instrument, wrote to the community of the Galatians about the importance of being part of the family of the Church. And he teaches us about how to be members of this family in a better and more effective way. It is about very practical teachings.
"Brothers, even if one of you is caught doing something wrong, those of you who are spiritual should set that person right in a spirit of gentleness; and watch yourselves that you are not put to the test in the same way. Carry each other´s burdens; that is how to keep the law of Christ. Someone who thinks himself important, when he is not, only deceives himself; but everyone is to examine his own achievements, and then he will confine his boasting to his own achievements, not comparing them with anybody else's. Each one has his own load to carry. When someone is under instruction in doctrine, he should give his teacher a share in all his possessions. Don't delude yourself: God is not to be fooled; whatever someone sows, that is what he will reap. If his sowing is in the field of self-indulgence, then his harvest from it will be corruption; if his sowing is in the Spirit, then his harvest from the Spirit will be eternal life. And let us never slacken in doing good; for if we do not give up, we shall have our harvest in due time. So then, as long as we have the opportunity let all our actions be for the good of everybody, AND ESPECIALLY OF THOSE WHO BELONG TO THE HOUSEHOLD OF THE FAITH." (Galatians 6:1-10)
As brothers and sister in Christ, sons and daughters of the same Father, gathered in the love and grace of the Holy Spirit, being members of the Family of the Church, we should take the opportunity of our actions to do good to everybody but especially for the ones who belong to the household of the faith.
If you are looking to do good to someone, you are called to first of all do good for the brethren of faith, the ones who are on your side, every Sunday in the Holy Mass, sharing prayers and spiritual talks. Those are the first ones you should be looking to good.
Unfortunately in many places, people don't know about this calling. As faithful people of God and good Catholics, we need to care about our brothers in the same faith in our Lord and God Jesus Christ. They are the first ones and our priority in charity, in good actions, in sharing our faith and life with. They are at times even more important than our own family.
Blessed be God for the people who are part of the Family of the Church with their family from home as well. It is a wonderful grace and miracle of God for the days of darkness and confusion we are living in. Give thanks to the Lord if you are blessed and gifted in such way.
People just like me, first of all, need to be taught how to forgive, to accept and to love themselves the way they are. It is a process that takes time and everyone has its own pace. But after that we need to be taught to love others and love God. This love for God is expressed in the love for others. And the love for others expresses the love for God.
WE NEED TO BE AND GIVE SUPPORT FOR OUR DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, PRIESTS AND BISHOPS, RELIGIOUS AND LAY PEOPLE, FOR THE HOLY FATHER, THE POPE AND FOR THE CHURCH SPREAD IN THE WHOLE WORLD. WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE SAME BODY. WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY OF GOD. WE SHOULD ACCEPT EACH OTHER THOUGH THE DIFFERENCES.
"It is for us who are strong to bear with the susceptibilities of the weaker ones, and not please ourselves. Each of us must consider his neighbor's good, SO THAT WE SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER. Christ did not indulge his own feelings, either; indeed, as scripture says: The insults of those who insult you fall on me. And all these things which were written so long ago were written so that we, learning perseverance and the encouragement which the scriptures give, should have hope. Now the God of perseverance and encouragement give you all the same purpose, following the example of Christ Jesus, so that you may together give glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one heart. Accept one another, then, for the sake of God's glory, as Christ accepted you." (Romans 15:1-7)
How wonderful it is when we discover and learn the value of things as God intended them to be. How graciously are we who can call ourselves Catholics. How grateful should we be to the Father for call us from the world and become part of his family, in his great Church. How blessed and happy should we be for being Christians.
At times we forget about all the graces and blessings the Lord God had conferred to us throughout his glorious Church. How many times were we helped, pushed further, brought back to the right path and kept in the track of salvation through people who really care about us?! Sometimes we forget WE ARE FAMILY!!!
Great is the Lord of the Church for putting wonderful servants, to be like the very own Jesus Christ, on our side, to teach us how to be better, how to start and keep up a spiritual life. The world still need to find out the power that emanates from this family...
All who seek refugee can find a shelter; all who look for its own place can find a home; all who are tired can find rest; all who seek meaning and purpose for life can find it in the Lord Jesus Christ, beside people who love you with a pure and innocent love and love God above all other things...
Ohhh, there is not enough words to describe what the Church is... Humbly I would like to state it using one word that saved me and maybe can light up a small fire in your heart, knowing that if it happened to me, it can happen also with you.
I came from darkness and found the light; I came from hate and found the love; I came from loneliness and found the companionship; I came with no where to go and found the way; I came from desperation and found the hope; I came from death and found the life. Jesus gave me all of this and much more through his Holy and Wonderful Church...
He called me from nowhere and made me a member of his own Body! He is calling you as well. Can you hear his voice?
Let's be real brothers and sisters to our beloved ones in faith. Let's give our hands and offer support. Let's pray for each other and please God with our life, loving and caring with all our heart for every single person that shares the same love for the Lord Jesus, mainly those who are closer to us, our neighbors and parishioners. God help us to get rid of disputes, vanity and false Christianity, because we are called to be family and not rivals.
God bless and confirm us in our mission to be his Family of the Church!
Comments
Post a Comment