FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
THE WAY FORWARD IN CHRIST
(Part 191)
BEING MISSIONARY FAMILIES OF CHRIST – 4
Pro-Life Sunday
January 31, 2021
Today’s readings:
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm 95:1-9
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
Mark 1:21-28
We as MFC are called to defend faith, family and life. How we do that is as we live out our name Missionary Families of Christ.
First, we are “of Christ.” We worship the one true God, our Creator and Father. “Enter, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord who made us.” (Ps 95:6). We look to, obey, and walk in the footsteps of Jesus, our Savior and Lord, who is our Chief Shepherd. “For he is our God, we are the people he shepherds, the sheep in his hands.” (Ps 95:7a). As such, we listen to his words and act on them. We commune with him in prayer each and every day. “Oh, that today you would hear his voice” (Ps 95:7b).
Second, we are “families.” We work to strengthen our marriages. We look to how the husband “may please his wife” and how the wife “may please her husband.” (1 Cor 7:33b,34d). We work for the renewal and strengthening of our families. This challenging work is dependent on being of Christ, that we look to “the things of the Lord, how (we) may please the Lord.” (1 Cor 7:32b). We look to “the things of the Lord, so that (we) may be holy in both body and spirit.” (1 Cor 7:34b). We serve Christ as we serve our spouse and family. Though we can be distracted by family responsibilities, we strive to keep Jesus at the center, as our first priority, and look to “adherence to the Lord without distraction.” (1 Cor 7:35c).
Third, we are “missionary.” We work to help establish God’s dominion over the whole world which He created, and his lordship over all the nations. “For the Lord is the great God, the great king over all gods, whose hand holds the depths of the earth; who owns the tops of the mountains. The sea and dry land belong to God, who made them, formed them by hand.” (Ps 95:3-5). His dominion has been usurped by the enemy, and our work is to proclaim Christ to all, to bring the nations to recognize him as Savior. “Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord; cry out to the rock of our salvation.” (Ps 95:1).
Our missionary work involves us in spiritual warfare, arrayed against the demons of the enemy. These demonic forces have taken over much of the world, and even penetrated the very Church of God. “In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit.” (Mk 1:23). How do we engage in this battle?
One, we speak the truths of God and teach people about His ways. We are to teach people all that Jesus has commanded us. For many lapsed Catholics and inadequately catechized Catholics, such will be “a new teaching with authority.” (Mk 1:27b). This will include teachings on the call to holiness, the need to live and share Christ, the demands of discipleship.
Two, we speak prophetically. Just as God used Moses and the prophets of old, we look to God using us as we live out the three-fold ministry of Jesus as priest, prophet and king. As God told Moses, “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kindred, and will put my words into the mouth of the prophet; the prophet shall tell them all that I command.” (Dt 18:18).
Three, we drive back and drive out the forces of the enemy. We work to remove their influence over people’s lives, and their dominance over them. In effect, just like Jesus, we say to the unclean spirit, “Come out of him!” (Mk 1:25b).
Our work as MFC is to make Jesus known, loved and obeyed. If we give our all, if we endure and persevere, if we look to the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, then it will happen. “His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.” (Mk 1:28). And beyond. To the very ends of the earth.
