UNITY OCTAVE 2017 - Day 1

The Love of Christ compels us

Reconciliation: Prayer for Unity in the Church

Jan 18 - Jan 25

Unity Octave has been observed from 1908 onwards as a step towards ensuring the Church or the People of God are united under One Lord and One Baptism. 

The chosen theme for this year is 2 Cor 5: 14-20. The Love of Christ urges is to throw away all divisions and thank God for the variety of gifts and charism, using it all for the One Kingdom that Our Lord wanted to establish on earth.

Can we pray from today onwards!

THEME FOR DAY 1: ONE HAS DIED FOR ALL

Other References:

Isaiah 53:4-12	He gave his life as an atoning sacrifice
Psalm 118: 1.14-29	God did not abandon me to death
1 John 2:1-2	Christ died for all
John 15:13-17	Giving his life for his friends

PRAYER FOR THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH

God of all, we pray as one,

that we may be one,

just as the Lord Jesus prayed

we may be one in Him.

Your son Jesus compels us

to be reconciled to one another.

May our spirits be joined

to your Holy Spirit,

that we may witness to

the visible unity of the Church.

May we all recognise

that we are truly one with you,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit and

grow together in peace.

We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord

Amen.

WORD 2day: 18th January, 2017

Do Good, because no one knows you!

Wednesday, 2nd week in Ordinary Time

Heb 7: 1-3,15-17; Mk 3: 1-6

We are aware of the uprising among the Tamilnadu youngsters these days - they are not fighting merely for a cultural game to be conducted, but they are fighting for a culture and its heritage to be respected and upheld. There are voices that are continually being raised to strengthen their hand and to give them the needed visibilty. There is also a danger that some who add their voice to this cause, do so only to gain the hidden agenda they have! In most of the cases, it is so!

There can be more than one reason for someone to do good- seeking popularity, creating a name for themselves, looking for recognition from people, proving your point to those who see you doing good etc. But Jesus today invites us to do good, because no one knows you. No one understood who he was, they did not really care to. They thought they knew from where Jesus came - but that was not true! They never knew or understood Jesus until Jesus had left them. But Jesus did all the good that he could. He invites us too - to do good because no one knows you! Not because you get a reward or a recognition and not because people would stand by you...but because you are convinced of doing that good. Never grow tired of doing what is good.