Word for the day by Christian Education Time

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 Church : The body of Christ

Matthew 18:15-20

V 19  Again I say to you, if two  of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

             Pauline  epistles  use the phrase Body of Christ  to refer to all individuals   who heard the  good news  of salvation, believed in him,  and were sealed by the holy baptism, thus receiving the  promise of the Holy Spirit. In today’s passage from the Gospel according to Matthew, we see Jesus giving some practical instructions on handling  conflicts within the community of believers.

              However, looking at today’s conflicts between churches, it is sad to note that the Church nowadays  does not look significantly different from the rest of the   secular  world. It leads some to wonder, “what is the value of the church?”   Church is the body of Christ, but when differences emerge, it sometimes lead the people to walk away from faith, and the true meaning of the Kingdom of God is at stake.  Churches are  growing big,  music is good, has exciting programs, but people made in the image of God  are being lost in sin, sliding away  from  holiness to conflict.  It is because today's Christians ignore what Jesus taught us in the scriptures.

                In Christ, we are united  with God and with each other.  When the love of God prevails in everyone's heart, they become a  part of the  flock  under the true Shepherd King. Despite differences, we learn to agree and co-operate with each other in love. That gives value to our worship and witness as a Church.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, make us instruments of love and peace and enable us to be a part of the Body of  Christ which  is the Church.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY  
“The Body of Christ, broken in the sacred liturgy, can be seen  through charity and sharing, in the faces and persons of the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters”  Pope Francis.

Dr. John K. Thomas,  Tabor MTC

Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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