generations
“That is sooo First Century!” Not a comment you hear everyday…
I would be willing to bet that the lives of the men and women in the Bible have a great deal more in common with our lives than you would expect. Each of them dealt with real problems, real pain, real fears, stress, worries about jobs, kids, family, aging parents, the death of a spouse, and a culture creeping in on their religious identity… sound at all familiar?
As Catholics, we believe we are in a mystical way connected to these “Bible characters” that were not really “characters” at all in their day. They were just moms and dads, husbands and wives, farm workers, shop owners, cops, IRS men, beauty queens, and you got…”The Deadliest Catch” guys of their day.
How are we connected you might ask?
Through the wonderful reality we confess in the Apostle’s Creed-- The Communion of Saints.
Did you know that the Church is made up of three parts? (CCC #954)
The Church Militant (us here on earth now, still fighting the good fight! 1 Timothy 6:12)
The Church Penitent (those holy souls in purgatory going through purification before reaching their final reward.)
The Church Triumphant (those who are already in heaven! Hopefully we will be there someday too!)
We all make up ONE BODY-- the CHURCH, THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS with Christ as our head! (CCC #946 and 947)
We sing ONE BREAD, ONE BODY-- but do you ever really stop to think what that means?
Christ is ETERNAL. Such an amazing thought! He is both immanent and transcendent, meaning He is here now and in heaven, above us, eternally, forever.
The Bible says in Genesis 1:26; “Then God said: Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness.”
So He WAS since the beginning of time. He is part of the “US and OUR” in that statement.
And in the book of Revelation 1:8 Jesus states, “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘the one who is and who was and who is to come, The Almighty.’” So Christ has always BEEN, is NOW EVER PRESENT and will always BE. And we, as part of that body of Christ get to participate along with the great Communion of Saints being a part of salvation’s history unfolding.
So, what are you doing to make salvation’s story unfold in THIS generation and in the generations to come? Do you know that OUR YES is as important as theirs was in spreading the GREAT NEWS: that Jesus Christ loves us, forgives us and comes to set us free?
Listen to this song by Sara Groves (words below*) and be inspired!
May our great, great, great, grand daughters and sons live in peace and union with God because of what Christ has done for us and perhaps, in part, because of our prayers and cooperation with God’s grace in this the life. Generations will reap what we sow...pass on the blessings!
“So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well.” 2 Timothy 2:1-2
Dear Lord,
I want to be a part of the story but I am afraid I don’t have what it takes! I’m not MARY or PAUL! And I’m ignorant of your word. I’m fearful and I really don’t know exactly what You are calling me to do! But Jesus, please come now and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. And by Your grace I will trust that each and every day You will give me what I need to follow You! At my baptism, You gave me all I need to become a saint--Yourself! I want to pass on a blessing in this world. I want to say YES to You. I want what I do to have meaning and purpose --not just for the here and now, but for generations to come--a life that will bring You much glory! Come Lord, help me to say YES, because only by Your grace and in the power of Your Holy Spirit can I ever be able to do what You ask of me. Thank You for Your Holy Word in which I can get to know You better and connect to You. Thank you for The Great Communion of Saints that are praying for me. And thank you also for giving me Your Body, the Church, here on earth that will encourage, inspire and love me. And by Your grace, may I encourage, inspire and love them too.
I ask this in the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. Amen!
*"Generations"
I can taste the fruit of Eve
I'm aware of sickness, death and disease
The results of her choices are vast
Eve was the first but she wasn't the last
And if I were honest with myself
Had I been standing at that tree
My mouth and my hands would be covered with fruit
Things I shouldn't know and things I shouldn't see
Remind me of this with every decision
Generations will reap what I sow
I can pass on a curse or a blessing
To those I will never know
She taught me to fear the serpent
I'm learning to fear myself
And all of the things I am capable of
In my search for wisdom, acceptance and wealth
And to say that the devil made me do it
Is a cop out and a lie
The devil can't make me do anything
When I'm calling on Jesus Christ
Remind me of this with every decision
Generations will reap what I sow
I can pass on a curse or a blessing
To those I will never know
To my great, great, great
granddaughter
Live in peace
To my great, great, great grandson
Live in peace
To my great, great, great
granddaughter
Live in peace
To my great, great, great grandson
Live in peace, oh, live in peace
Remind me of this with every decision
Generations will reap what I sow
I can pass on a curse or a blessing
To those I will never know
Oh, remind me
Generations will reap what I sow
I can pass on a curse or a blessing
To those I will never know
Oh, I may never know
