The Lord wants to return and take us with Him to heaven in perfect, eternal love (see 1 Thes 4:16-17). First, however, He wants all to believe in Him and be saved (see 1 Tm 2:4). The world will believe in Jesus when Jesus' disciples are one (Jn 17:21). We become one through the Holy Spirit (see 1 Cor 12:13). The Holy Spirit works through the bishops, the successors of the apostles, to make us one. The Holy Spirit works through the Pope, the successor of St. Peter, to make sure the bishops are united with each other and can thereby serve the unity of the Church.
History confirms that the Holy Spirit gives us unity through the bishops and the Pope. Those Christian groups that have tried to do without the bishops and the Pope have splintered into thousands of factions. Without the chair of Peter, that is, the authority of the Pope, they inevitably lack the unity in the Spirit necessary for the Church to complete its work of world evangelization and preparation for Christ's final coming. It is more clear today than ever that on the rock of Peter, Jesus has chosen to build His Church (Mt 16:18). Live and love accordingly.
| PRAYER: | Father, send the Holy Spirit to lead me to die to myself and be united with You and Your Church. |
| PROMISE: | "I will entrust to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you declare bound on earth shall be bound in heaven; whatever you declare loosed on earth shall be loosed in heaven." –Mt 16:19 |
| PRAISE: | "The Holy Spirit descended upon all who were listening to Peter's message" (Acts 10:44). |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College