Monday, January 28, 2008

Psalms 133

Psalms 133. The Holy Bible: King James Version.:
"The Psalms
133

The Blessings of Brotherly Unity
A Song of degrees of David.


1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
for brethren to dwell together in unity!


2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head,
that ran down upon the beard,
even Aaron's beard:
that went down to the skirts of his garments;


3 as the dew of Hermon,
and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion:
for there the LORD commanded the blessing,
even life for evermore."

Come, Holy Spirit

Devotion - Prayers - Come, Holy Spirit:

"Come, Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your Divine Love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Oh God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit instructed the hearts of the faithful, Grant, that by the same Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen."

Unity Prayer

Catholic Online - Prayers:

"Eternal Father,
we praise you for sending your Son
to be one of us and to save us.
Look upon your people with mercy,
for we are divided in so many ways,
and give us the Spirit of Jesus to make us one in love.

We ask this gift, loving Father,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen."

no divisions?

Reading II
1 Cor 1:10-13, 17

I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree in what you say,
and that there be no divisions among you,
but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.
For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters,
by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you.
I mean that each of you is saying,
“I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,”
or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”
Is Christ divided?
Was Paul crucified for you?
Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel,
and not with the wisdom of human eloquence,
so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.


At first reading this passage, you might think that Jesus is speaking to the different 'denominations' out there. But then at closer look, we see this same 'division' within our very own Catholic Church. Sad, sad, sad. Can't even imagine what it must look like from the outside. There is so much fear, you can see it everywhere.

Today, let us pray for unity within our own church before we can reach out to others.