the great divide?
"Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste. Any house torn by dissension falls." —Luke 11:17
A house divided cannot stand. Therefore, Jesus prays that we would be one as He and the Father are one (Jn 17:21). Satan tries to divide and conquer us. Jesus is drawing us to Himself (see Jn 12:32) and thereby closer to one another. Satan is trying to pull us apart and tear us to pieces. We either enter into the unity of the Trinity, or we are scattered to hell by the centrifugal force of sin and selfishness.
As we live and love in the center of Lent, let us obey Jesus' commands to:
- repent of sin as it divides us from God and each other,
- forgive those who have sinned against us and thereby break down the walls of division,
- love our brothers and sisters in Christ and reject the extreme individualism and anonymity of the culture of death,
- fast and pray to break down the walls of abortion, racism, starvation, war, and other evils (see Gospel of Life, Pope John Paul II, 100),
- love ever more deeply the people the Lord has given us to love, in particular our family members,
- love and give mercy to our enemies, and
- be a minister of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18).
Let the houses of our lives, families, communities, and churches be united, not divided. Let us stand united forever.
Prayer: Father, make me like Jesus. May I live and die for unity (see Jn 11:51-52).
Promise: "If it is by the finger of God that I cast out devils, then the reign of God is upon you." —Lk 11:20
Praise: God revealed Himself in such a way to Mark that he was led from atheism to an RCIA program to member of an order of brothers and priests.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, August 1, 2002
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 7, 2002