Scripture

“The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.” 

Acts 4:32-35

Reflection

In the first Christian community in the Acts, we see the transformation of the disciples into a family of faith.  This affected every area of their lives as the conversion begun by the Holy Spirit continued in them.  The scripture describes something amazing, they were of one heart and one mind!  This is the intention of God, that all who believe are united with him and with one another.  

Meditation

Place yourself in the presence of God, praying in the Spirit, then ask yourself: What needs to change in me that I can of one heart and one mind with God and with my brother and sisters in Christ?

Pray

Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts, our minds, our lives.  Convert us ever more deeply to Jesus, the source of all unity.  Make us lights on the hilltops, in our homes, in our churches, in our workplaces.  Make us your witnesses in unity among our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Scripture

“As I began to speak, the holy Spirit fell upon them as it had upon us at the beginning, and I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the holy Spirit. If then God gave them the same gift he gave to us when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God?”   

Acts 11:15-17

Reflection

God sent the Holy Spirit to Cornelius and his household in the same way he poured out the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and disciples at Pentecost.  They experienced the same manifestations that the Apostles and disciples experienced.  Peter saw this and had to draw the conclusion that God made no distinction between Jews and Gentiles in giving his Holy Spirit to anyone who asked for it.  

Meditation

Place yourself in the presence of God, praying in the Spirit, then ask yourself: How does the Holy Spirit need to change and transform me so that I can see his work among all who believe and receive him?

Pray

Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts, our minds, our lives.  Convert us ever more deeply to Jesus, the source of all unity.  Make us lights on the hilltops, in our homes, in our churches, in our workplaces.  Make us your witnesses in unity among our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Scripture

“After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them, “My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the holy Spirit just as he did us. He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts. Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they.” 

Acts 15:7-11

Reflection

Peter was open to the movement of God and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in ways beyond his understanding.  Unlike the Pharisees who saw Jesus the Messiah before them but were closed minded and could not recognize him, Peter saw the work of the Holy Spirt and opened his mind and heart to what God was doing.  Peter sees real faith and that God saves everyone willing to accept it by the grace of Jesus Christ.

Meditation

Place yourself in the presence of God, praying in the Spirit, then ask yourself: How does God need to change me, change my heart and mind, that I can be open to the Holy Spirit working in ways beyond my own understanding?

Pray

Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts, our minds, our lives.  Convert us ever more deeply to Jesus, the source of all unity.  Make us lights on the hilltops, in our homes, in our churches, in our workplaces.  Make us your witnesses in unity among our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Scripture

“Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”

Romans 13:8

“Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the body’s growth and builds itself up in love.”

Ephesians 4:15-16

Reflection

Paul, the great apostle, makes clear the primacy of love in Christian relationships.  He is a living example of Jesus command to us to love one another and he calls on us to do the same.  Love builds up the body of Christ, love overcomes a multitude of sins, love bridges the great chasms and division among us.  Growing in love of Christ and his followers leads to a deepening unity among all believers, even those we may be uncomfortable with or disagree with.

Meditation

Place yourself in the presence of God, praying in the Spirit, then ask yourself: What can I do to grow in love with other Christian brothers and sisters in Christ, and when will I begin doing these things?

Pray

Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts, our minds, our lives.  Convert us ever more deeply to Jesus, the source of all unity.  Make us lights on the hilltops, in our homes, in our churches, in our workplaces.  Make us your witnesses in unity among our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Scripture

“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you.  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you.”

2 Corintios 13:11-14

Reflection

Paul encourages his listeners to live out love and unity in very practical ways.  The Gospel is lived out in daily life, in ordinary life, in the details and circumstances we find ourselves in.  This is also true of living as witnesses to Christian unity.  It is not about how we feel, it is about what we choose to do, say, and give of ourselves.  Love is a choice for the other, as Jesus showed us in his life, death, and resurrection.  Love shows itself in many little things, as we see in our own lives.  Christian unity calls us to love other Christians in these small and very practical ways.

Meditation

Place yourself in the presence of God, praying in the Spirit, then ask yourself: What are some practical ways that we can choose to live out our love for other Christians?

Pray

Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts, our minds, our lives.  Convert us ever more deeply to Jesus, the source of all unity.  Make us lights on the hilltops, in our homes, in our churches, in our workplaces.  Make us your witnesses in unity among our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Scripture

“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Reflection

Paul extols some of the many aspects of love.  He also makes clear that sometimes the love we extend is not reciprocated, at least initially.  Paul exhorts us to outdo one another in showing love, to take the first step without waiting for others to take it, to continue showing love even if we do not experience it in return.  St. John of the Cross said, “Where love is lacking, sow love, and you will reap love.”  We are encouraged to live this way in our relationships with other Christians.

Meditation

Place yourself in the presence of God, praying in the Spirit, then ask yourself: How can I take the first step and what should I do in reaching out in love to other Christians?

Pray

Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts, our minds, our lives.  Convert us ever more deeply to Jesus, the source of all unity.  Make us lights on the hilltops, in our homes, in our churches, in our workplaces.  Make us your witnesses in unity among our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Scripture

“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:34-35

“How good and how pleasant it is, when brothers dwell together as one!”

Psalm 133:1

Reflection

Jesus commands us to love as he loved.  This is impossible for us on our own strength alone, but Jesus pours the Holy Spirit into our lives making all things possible.  Even unity among divided Christians.  This is a practical unity of love in the small things of life and faith, seeing the other as a brother or sister in Christ, and treating them accordingly.  While doctrinal unity is entrusted to theologians, we can show unity in practical ways.  The goal is not unity itself, it is love.  When grow in love for other Christians it will begin to unite us in ways that seemed impossible to us but are what our Father desires.

Meditation

Place yourself in the presence of God, praying in the Spirit, then ask yourself: Is my life a witness of love and unity for other Christians and what more is God asking me to do to become this kind of witness?

Pray

Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts, our minds, our lives.  Convert us ever more deeply to Jesus, the source of all unity.  Make us lights on the hilltops, in our homes, in our churches, in our workplaces.  Make us your witnesses in unity among our brothers and sisters in Christ.