Pro Sanctity Members going to World Youth Day with Pope Benedict XVI...Together they actually made it! Is Christian hope individualistic?
11. Indeed, the Letter to the Hebrews speaks of a “city” (cf. 11:10, 16; 12:22; 13:14) and therefore of communal salvation. Consistently with this view, sin is understood by the Fathers as the destruction of the unity of the human race, as fragmentation and division. Babel, the place where languages were confused, the place of separation, is seen to be an expression of what sin fundamentally is. Hence “redemption” appears as the reestablishment of unity, in which we come together once more in a union that begins to take shape in the world community of believers.
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"I believe because you believe!"
by Teresa Monaghen
The Pope is saying we have hope together; we have a hope that flows from the one risen Christ to His diverse members. In a homily the other day the pastor mentioned a story about a young man he had had as a student. Several years out of college the young man asked the priest if he would be the celebrant at his wedding. The priest was delighted and on the day before the wedding the young man asked his priest friend to go for a walk, it was primarily to visit but became a deep discussion on the meaning of life. At a certain point the young man says to his priest friend, “You know father, I am confused about many things, but one thing I am sure of, the reason I believe is because you believe. Your faith and hope keep me going.” Wow, what a humbling statement, but it is true, because of our unity in the body of Christ, we sustain each other in hope. We are so connected because of God’s saving action that just by our very act of faith, we help another to believe and have hope in the future.
Oh Lord, I do believe, thank you for the believers who help my unbelief. Amen.
1 comment:
Yes, we are all in the community of believers. At one time I used to keep my head down in prayer during communion time. I scoffed at the people who were busy watching the parade of faithful going to recieve the body of Christ. Then one day it was pointed out that they were by brothers and sisters giving wittness to their love for Jesus. Now I too watch the parade of the faithful, praying for them as they pass and trying not to compare clothes or suntans.
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