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Look at the words in the reading from Ephesians that refer to a building of some kind - dividing wall, structure, temple, household, foundation, cornerstone, dwelling place. These images of building are deliberately pointed towards the community at Ephesus and Paul is calling the community to understand that, like a temple or a physical building, they are called by Christ to join together to form a "spiritual dwelling place." And just like a banquet in the Gospel reading, the community of Christians is called to make itself ready for the imminent arrival of the Master. In our lives as a Christian community, both personally and collectively, the themes of building the body of Christ and making ready for His coming are fundamental. We live in a world that is often opposed to these fundamental Christian values and it is not always easy to keep in touch with how we can better live out our lives as the household of Christ. If I imagine my community, Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC), as a building of some kind, would it be of sound structure? Would Christ feel welcome at the banquet that my community (BEC) is preparing? The point of these questions is to help me ask myself what I and my community (BEC) can do to better prepare a dwelling place worthy of Christ Jesus. Lord, deepen in me the experience and knowledge that we, BEC, are members of the household of God with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. |
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P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
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That young married couples may be sustained by the example and assistance of their parents and other families
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The testimony and help that parents and other families must offer to sustain young married couples finds its place in the ambit of post-matrimonial pastoral care. Parents and other families are the most suited to offer this assistance to young spouses because clearly they have lived personally the values which they must transmit. These parents show faithfulness through living in the best possible way the commitments assumed during their marriage. One could ask, but why is it necessary for young couples to be sustained by the testimony of their parents and other families? The answer is, because today there are many negative attitudes which scandalise and discourage young people. Being new to the condition of matrimonial life they need advice, encouragement, moral support, correction and prayer. They cannot be left alone or abandoned in this phase of their lives. Couples need to take advantage of the wealth of the experience and wisdom of their parents. "The pastoral action of the Church must be progressive, also in the sense that it must accompany the family, following it step by step in the various stages of its formation and development," (Familiaris Consortio n65, 69). | |
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