The body of Christ has been split between Orthodox and Catholic for almost 1000 years. Protestants separated from Catholics about 500 years ago. Then Protestants splintered into thousands of denominations. We've always lived in a severely divided Church, in Christ's terribly broken Body.
We have learned to live with disunity. It's difficult for us to fathom Jesus' high-priestly prayer that we become one as He and the Father are one (Jn 17:21). However, the Lord is calling us to "make every effort to preserve the unity" we have and restore the unity we've lost (Eph 4:3; cf 1 Cor 1:10). We must leave our gift at the altar and go to be reconciled with our brothers and sisters (Mt 5:23ff). We have the responsibility to correct those who have wronged us and also be open to correction if we have wronged others (see Mt 18:15). Moreover, we must be peacemakers (Mt 5:9), ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18), and witnesses (Mt 18:16) in order to help others resolve their disagreements. If necessary, we should call on our pastors to bring about unity in problem situations (Mt 18:17). The Church may even have to acknowledge that those in disunity have in effect excommunicated themselves (Mt 18:17). A person's decision to be excommunicated is officially accepted by the Church primarily to encourage that person to decide to return to communion with the Church.
These means for restoring unity may seem extreme, but not if we have Jesus' heart for His broken Body, the Church.
| PRAYER: | Father, may I be willing to pray daily and even give my life to re-unite Your Church (see That They Be One, Pope St. John Paul II, 102). |
| PROMISE: | "From the rising to the setting of the sun is the name of the Lord to be praised." –Ps 113:3 |
| PRAISE: | St. Maximilian imitated Jesus by offering himself for execution when he could have escaped, and by insisting that another man be spared (see Jn 18:7-8). |
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