DAILY- HOMILY

June 6, 2019 – THURSDAY, 7th Week of Easter
St. Norbert, Bishop and Religious Founder
St. Marcellin Champagnat, Priest and Religious Founder
White.

Acts 22: 30; 23: 6 – 11 / Jn 17: 20 – 26

St. Norbert (1080 – 1134), born in Germany, was consecrated Bishop of Magdeburg; he preached for religious and moral reforms.

A French priest, St.. Marcellin Champagnat (1789 – 1840)   founded the Marist Brothers (FMS) for the education of the youth in 1817. Beatified in 1955, he was canonized by Pope St. John Paul II in 1999.

FROM THE GOSPEL READING: Jn 17: 20 – 24
Jesus said to his disciples, "I pray not only for these but also for those who through their word will believe in me. May they be one as you Father are in me and I am in you. May they be one in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

"I have given them the Glory you have given me that they may be one as we are: I in them and you in me. Thus they shall reach perfection in unity and the world shall know that you have sent me and that I have loved them just as you loved me.

"Father, since you have given them to me, I want them to be with me where I am and see the Glory you gave me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world."

REFLECTION
In the Gospel reading from Jesus' final discourse to his apostles after the Last Supper, Jesus prays for the unity of all his followers: "I pray not only for these but also for those who through their word will believe in me. May they all be one as you Father are in me and I am in you. May they be one in us, so the world may believe that you have sent me."

Even during the life and public ministry of Jesus, he "stood as a sign of contradiction." (Lk 2: 34) Some believed in him; many hated him, with such hatred as to demand his crucifixion and death despite all the great deeds he had done.

The Catholic Church has had great controversies which resulted in division among its members: the break-up in the eleventh century gave birth to various orthodox Christian churches, the Protestant reformation in the sixteenth century fragmented Christianity in Europe, resulting in a variety of Christian churches in Germany, Switzerland, England and the rest of Europe. Until now these divisions along theological and cultural differences persist in the Church of Rome founded by Christ on St. Peter.

In the Philippines we have the Aglipayans who separated from the Roman Church in the early twentieth century. There are also many other Christian churches in the Philippines which had originated from various European and American churches.

We pray for the unity of all Christians, "that those whom one Baptism has consecrated may be joined together by integrity of Faith and united in the bond of charity."

FINALLY, WE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ASKED OUR PRAYERS AND FOR THOSE WHO NEED OUR PRAYERS THE MOST.


Have a good day!

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