Daily Meditation: Loving the Church

Loving the Church - from Henri Nouwen's Bread for the Journey Loving the Church often seems close to impossible.  Still, we must keep reminding ourselves that all people in the Church - whether powerful or powerless,  conservative or progressive, tolerant or fanatic - belong to that long line of witnesses moving through this valley of tears, singing songs of praise and thanksgiving, listening to the voice of their Lord, and eating together from the bread that keeps multiplying as it is shared.  When we remember that, we may be able to say,  "I love the Church, and I am glad to belong to it." Loving the Church is our sacred duty.   Without a true love for the Church, we cannot live in it in joy and peace.  And without a true love for the Church, we cannot call people to it. For further reflection... "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." - Ephesians 4: 2,3 (NIV) Comment on this Daily Meditation. The upcoming Advent Book Discussion - The Inner Voice of Love. To find out more, click here! The First Annual Henri Nouwen Lecture featuring Jim Wallis happens November 14, 2015. For more information, click here.   Visit our website for inspiration, resources, news, events, community.     Text excerpts taken from Bread for the Journey, by Henri J.M. Nouwen, ©1997 HarperSanFrancisco. All Scripture from The Jerusalem Bible ©1966, 1967, and 1968 Darton, Longman & Todd and Doubleday & Co. Inc. Photo by V. Dobson. Scripture chosen by L. Yeskoo.

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