COMMON OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

Paul’s description of Christianity sounds almost too good to be true, like some kind of utopia where everyone lives in peace all the time. We all know that’s a pretty tall order, especially when it comes to family life. Even with the best of intentions, arguments and misunderstandings flare up and feelings get hurt. Who couldn’t use a dose or two of utopia around the dinner table at night?

Certainly, Paul is not suggesting that Christians become robots who always smile and never have a disagreement. That would leave out Paul himself, a man who had more than his share of disputes! And he had years of experience in building up churches, so he learned firsthand that the body of Christ is made up of very different people, each with unique temperaments and gifts.

What Paul is emphasizing here is not a unity based on everyone being the same but a unity founded on the love of God and the presence of the Spirit. It’s a unity that arises as we learn to yield ourselves to the Spirit, seek him daily, and ask him to shape our thoughts and actions. The more we do this in our families, the more things will change. When people walk into our homes, they will begin to sense peace and harmony. Little by little, they won’t notice what divides us as much as what brings us together: our love for one another and for Jesus Christ!

So reflect for a moment on how you can bring the peace of the Lord into your family or among the people closest to you. You could make a point of gathering and praying a decade of the Rosary together. Parents and grandparents could call one of their adult children or grandchildren to pray with them. You could read Scripture together and pick one verse to think about throughout the day. And of course, whether you live with your family or not, you can pray for them—and yourself—to grow in love and respect for one another. The Holy Spirit himself wants to guide us, so let’s invite him in!

“Holy Spirit, come alive in my family! Make us one.”

Galatians 3:22-29
Psalm 105:2-7
Luke 11:27-28