Thursday, June 30

The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime (pp. 156-157)

To read this morning's office, click here.

I have been privileged to travel abroad -- and a listing of places is not the issue. Every time I go abroad, whether it is for a short visit or a longer stay, I have been impressed as a Christian of three things: first, that there is always a church where I go; second, that the church is filled with local customs, history, habits, issues, concerns, translation, and commitments; third, that it is always the same gospel: that God, in Jesus Christ, has come to us to forgive us and restore us and liberate us.

When the early apostles were shoved out of Jerusalem they had no idea that this small movement, this little mustard seed of followers, would explode into a world-wide Church.

"The Lord is King." "Happy the nation whose God is Yahweh." "He molds every heart and takes note of all that men do."

God cares for each of us, and he cares for each person in the entire world. God makes each person to be who they are, and God calls each person to love God and others, and he calls each of us to do the same. We are all alike -- and we are all different.

Today I will take note of the diversity of the Church and the simple unity of its gospel.