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One Bread, One Body - Reflection for February 9, 2018

WHEN SOMETHING ISN'T BETTER THAN NOTHING

"I will tear away the kingdom from Solomon's grasp and will give you ten of the tribes. One tribe shall remain to him." –1 Kings 11:31-32

Solomon was the wisest person who had ever lived (1 Kgs 3:12). Solomon proved his exceptional wisdom by settling a dispute between two harlots, each of whom claimed to be the mother of a baby. When Solomon was about to cut the baby in half, the woman who volunteered to give up her baby to the other woman was recognized as the true mother (1 Kgs 3:26-27). She preferred to lose the baby rather than have half of it.

Later, Solomon's kingdom was divided (1 Kgs 11:31). The people reasoned that having part of the kingdom was better than having none at all. But Jesus said: "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste. Any house torn by dissension falls" (Lk 11:17).

The body of Christ today has been torn to pieces. We have a world decimated by ethnic and national divisions. Many of our churches, marriages, and families are divided, divorced, broken, and shattered. Few are alarmed by the fragmentation of our world. Too many think that they at least have something. However, is our disunity not only a deprivation but a destruction?

PRAYER: Father, heal divisions through the intercession of our Blessed Mother.
PROMISE: "He has done everything well! He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak! " —Mk 7:37
PRAISE: Mary and Philip volunteered to work with marriage preparation at their parish. They longed to build strong marriages and families in the holy love of Jesus and Mary.

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Acknowledgement

Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:

· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College