Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-66) - One in Christ

Dearest Goddaughter,

We sometimes say this about someone who did not do their job - "they had one job." However, what about us when it comes to God? In today's first reading, from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, God asks of us this one thing: "Listen to my voice." Yet, we only need to look at our nation and world to know that we as a people do not listen to the voice of God.

God knows this about us and calls us out, saying: ". . .they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed. . . they have not obeyed me nor paid heed. . . this is the nation that does not listen to the voice of the Lord, its God, or take correction. . . Faithfulness has disappeared." Do we walk in the hardness of our evil hearts? Are we so stiff-necked that we turn our backs, not our faces, to God?

Jesus warns us against being divided against ourselves, saying that even the Evil One and his minions know not to be divided: "Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.. . .if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?" Jesus did not mince words when he talked about unity, saying: "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." 

Therefore, as the many parts of the One Body of Christ, let us not sow Christian disunity but be united under the one banner of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. How can we do this? We look to the Holy Trinity - Three Divine Persons, God. The Psalms provide us with a good roadmap to follow:

"Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;

let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

. . .

Come, let us bow down in worship;

let us kneel before the LORD who made us.

For he is our God,

and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides."

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: Jer 7:23-28 and Lk 11:14-23 (below).

. . .

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute,

and when the demon had gone out,

the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.

Some of them said, "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,

he drives out demons."

Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.

But he knew their thoughts and said to them,

"Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste

and house will fall against house.

And if Satan is divided against himself,

how will his kingdom stand?

For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.

If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,

by whom do your own people drive them out?

Therefore they will be your judges.

But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,

then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.

When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,

his possessions are safe.

But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,

he takes away the armor on which he relied

and distributes the spoils.

Whoever is not with me is against me,

and whoever does not gather with me scatters."