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January 21, 2007, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

“The body is one and has many members, but all the members, many though they are, are one body.” (1 Corinthians)

READINGS:
1. Nehemiah 8:2-4, 5-6, 8-10
2. 1 Corinthians 12:12-30
3. Gospel of Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21

REFLECTION: Last week and this week the Church focuses on unity. January 18-23 is the week of Church unity in which we pray for Christian unity. Of course all unity begins with the family. Sometimes it helps to do something formal about making life better, to have a meeting about it, put it into words, even write it down. Talk about your family statement and purpose. Discuss how we act, what we do, how we pray as a family.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, give us light that we may know our gifts. Give us faith that we might believe in them, and give us strength to use them for the good of all. Amen.

FAMILY DISCUSSION/ACTIVITY:

*Monday*:
January holds the feast of a great single-parent saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint. Is yours a single-parent family? What do you identify as your strength?

*Tuesday*:
Is yours a traditional family? How do you regard single-parent families? Do you accept them and treat them as families in their own right, or see them as ‘broken’ or ‘hurting’?

*Wednesday*:
Pray the rosary as a family tonight, praying for unity and strength in all families.

*Thursday*:
Contribute today to an organization that supports families.

*Friday*:
Think today of your church family. How is your church supporting all kinds of families? How can you become involved in your church’s family projects?

*Saturday*:
If you live in an ecumenical or interfaith marriage, discuss how it positively or negatively reflects the unity that should exist among all people.

PRAYER:
Holy Trinity, three persons in one, you are a sign of the unity we need in the world. Jesus, God and man together, you are a living example of how seemingly irreconcilable parts can be harmonized. Remain with us in all that we do so that one day the whole world will be united in you. Amen.




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