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Vocation Meditation - September 7
Jesus spoke to his disciples: "If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the brother or sister listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the brother or sister refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."
"Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My Name, I am there among them."
We are the Church Jesus had founded, the community of God's people. Jesus is Its Head and we, His members. His Church is holy, gifted daily with the promise of grace and salvation He won for us. This Church is to be built in each one's heart, home and community. This happens when we nourish our faith-life and our search for brotherhood and mercy in our daily encounters with each other.
Jesus made His disciples aware of the demands of dialogue in settling disputes. He led them to understand that the process may be slow and tedious. Efforts to live in peace, to search for truth and render justice to each other can be done in and with the Church. Yet, even with honest efforts, still there will be difficulties to surmount due to sin and human weaknesses. For the needs of the people of God, number plays the least. Jesus prays with us. We may be two or three gathered together to pray, to ask for anything. Still, it is the whole Church in us who prays, who asks, who intercedes because this is done in the power of His Name!
Vocation Challenge:
We are the Church!
During the Mass, do I pray with conviction this great doxology: Through Him, with Him and in Him...?
For the full Gospel reading for this Sunday, visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops site.