05 Jun 2 Timothy 2:14 (human weakness, Church)
Posted on Thursday 05 June, 2008
* Welcome God every morning before work by taking ~5 min to read this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion (life-devotions.blogspot.com), which has snippets from Living Faith (livingfaith.com).
Remind people of these things and charge them before God to stop disputing about words. This serves no useful purpose since it harms those who listen.
2 Timothy 2:14
Living Faith snippets: “With this history of disagreement, we should not be surprised to find factions, disputes and scandals in today’s Catholic Church. My Protestant friends have assured me that the situation is the same in their churches. They remain committed, however, because they find so much good in their communities. Sometimes I ask my Catholic lay friends, “What keeps you in this messy church?” Their answers have been very instructive…
These people are not naive. They know very well that the Catholic Church is a body with many warts, wounds and scars. They know there is often a disconnect between what it teaches and how it acts. They are not afraid to be critical of the Church when they perceive inconsistencies and injustices. But through it all, they continue to look beyond the human face to see the deeper reality: It is still the church of Jesus Christ, his body extended in time and space “for us and for our salvation.”” by Fr. Martin Pable
These people are not naive. They know very well that the Catholic Church is a body with many warts, wounds and scars. They know there is often a disconnect between what it teaches and how it acts. They are not afraid to be critical of the Church when they perceive inconsistencies and injustices. But through it all, they continue to look beyond the human face to see the deeper reality: It is still the church of Jesus Christ, his body extended in time and space “for us and for our salvation.”” by Fr. Martin Pable
Rich’s comments: Christians make up the body of Christ and Christ’s Church. As Christians we live our lives by following the teachings of Jesus. However, as humans, we should not be surprised by the presence of human weakness. It is through the Holy Spirit that Christ’s Church still exists today despite the mistakes of man. Lord, may Your Holy Spirit guide us to the Truth of Your Church and keep us from being disillusioned by the downfalls of man. Amen.
Feast Day: Today is the feast of Saint Boniface. He is known as the apostle of the Germans. He was an English Benedictine monk who devoted his life to the conversion of the Germanic tribes. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Boniface)
Our Prayers: Abortion, our enemies, our troops, China earthquake, Myanmar cyclone, depression/despair, prisoners, Vicki Miller (her cancer treatment)
Faith quote: “Put your confidence in God and not in man.” — author unknown
Through Christ Our Lord,
Rich
Romans 12:12
Rich
Romans 12:12
* Outreach: Let’s invite those near us to join our LIFE Devotions group, providing routine spiritual connection and strength. You could simply forward a devotion to them with an invitation. Let’s joyfully live out the Good News and gladly tell others about it (Mark 16:15)!
* Today’s Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml.
* Prayer: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, thereby changing us & helping others. Wayne Watson lyrics, “When God’s people pray, there is hope reborn, there is sin forgiven, and miracles you can’t explain await!” “If you pray that God will move a mountain and He doesn’t, assume Christ wants you to climb it instead & see Him.”
* Defend the unborn: Websites at life-devotions.blogspot.com. ‘Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don’t stand back and let them die’ (Prov 24:11). ‘Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you’ (Jer 1:5). ‘It is a great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish’ Blessed Mother Teresa. Click for Prayer to End Abortion.
* Evangelization: Let’s make room for non-believers (be a friend, make a friend, lead friend to Christ) and perpetual re-evangelization of self and those near us, by way of daily prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of selfless love, mercy, and service…