Today's Mass readings

1 Cor 1:10-13, 17

"I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,that all of you agree in what you say,and that there be no divisions among you,but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters,by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you.I mean that each of you is saying,“I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,”or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”Is Christ divided?Was Paul crucified for you?Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel,and not with the wisdom of human eloquence,so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning."

Right from the start...divisions! Now add 2 thousand years, a "reformation", multiple schisms and what do get? A lot of confused people wondering/asking, "what is the church?"

Is Christ divided? No. Therefore His church should not be divided. I guess the problem is that His church is full of us human beings! Oh how we always get in the way. Heck, if I am honest with myself, there is division within me. Can't seem to fit with the saints, more at home with the sinners. I guess it's comforting that He came for the sinners.

We must strive for Christian unity. First question is how? How do we strive for such a task? When I reconciled with the Roman Catholic Church, I figured I was "back home". No more division. Wrong. SSPX vs. Novus Ordo. Pre vs. Post Vatican II. Like Charlie Brown says...Uuggggghhhh!

So, how do we strive? Maybe that is the wrong question. Maybe the right question is not how do "we" strive but how "I" strive for this unity.

1)Work on me first. More time in prayer, solitude, time alone with our Lord. Daily time in the Scriptures. Studying, praying, absorbing the Word of God.

2)Create more unity at home with my wife and kids. Daily examining my conscience as a father and husband. This of course seems tough. I guess I have to go back to step one on this one.
...Ok assuming I can get the first one down, prioritizing time spent with the family. I mean, how am I supposed to prioritize between the Xbox 360 and doing an activity with my wife and kids! (Only sort of joking on that one.) This is where I find going to Mass together so important. Receiving the Body and Blood or our Lord together, being unified with fellow Catholics around the world--what a mystery! Oh the Sacraments (see http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13295a.htm). A sign of something sacred and hidden, a mystery. "The redemption of man was not accomplished in an invisible manner. God renewed, through the Patriarchs and the Prophets, the promise of salvation made to the first man; external symbols were used to express faith in the promised Redeemer: "all these things happened to them [the Israelites] in figure" (1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 10:1). "So we also, when we were children, were serving under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman" (Galatians 4:3-4). The Incarnation took place because God dealt with men in the manner that was best suited to their nature. " Ok, I am on a rabbit trail with this one, bear with me. Isn't it like God to touch our senses? To touch our humanity? But I digress...

Back to the unity thing. After being married for 5 years now, I realize how difficult it can be sometime to be united with my wife on such topics as disciplining the kids, what to do with our finances, how to prioritize our time, etc. After thinking about all of this, I think I have my hands full with working on family unity.

Maybe that's why God gives us families. To learn how to die to self and serve others. To put others first. Maybe being a desert father never looked so good!

Ok, now I am really rambling. I gotta get ready to take the fam to Sesame Street live. Who knows, maybe I will be "unified" with Tommy and Molly in enjoying Elmo dance around.
More thoughts later.