The
Church
(Article 2)
by Darlene Czop
January is the month of
newness – new beginnings – fresh starts – new outlooks. It
marks a new year full of hope and promise. We are excited to
see how this year will unfold and how our prayer will affect the
world for the better in all the areas we have agreed to pray for
including our church.
How apropos it is to start with the topic of “Church” at the
beginning of this year. Praying for this intention has been a
great grace for me personally, and for all those who elected to
pray for “Church” this past year. I wonder how our prayers
blessed the Church at large – especially during the time of
transition, when we said, “Good-bye, John Paul the II,” and
“Hello, Benedict the XVI,” and as we prayed for the cardinals’
meeting to prayerfully select the new Pope? How are our prayers
blessing the Church and its mission to teach, heal, and proclaim
that Jesus Christ is Lord? I continue to wonder how our prayers
are touching the hearts and lives of those being called to serve
either as priests, brothers, nuns, or as dedicated laity? And,
most of all, as Charismatics, our prayers blessing the
church with the fire of Pentecost, and bringing an aliveness to
the church through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as we fan the
flame with our lives of love and service? Freely have we been
given many graces and freely are we to give.
Sometimes,
I think of the Church as a huge oak tree – with roots deep and
far into the ground – the ground of our heritage -- Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and the prophets. The tree is tall
and solid. Its branches are lush, thick, spreading far and
wide, open and welcoming to all who come to it, giving comfort,
rest and shade to those who are weary and burdened. No matter
the weather or the season, it remains steadfast, rooted in God
the Father, Jesus the Son, and in the Holy Spirit. Sometimes
the tree is affected by the elements or insects, resulting in
damage, dryness, or brokenness. Then the wind of the Holy
Spirit blows and all dryness, brokenness, and deadness are blown
away. New life begins.
May we who have promised
to pray for the Church continue to do so, to the glory of the
Father, in praise of His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all. God our
Father, may Your Kingdom.
(Darlene
Czop is on staff at the DCCR, a member of the DCCR Assembly,
and a core team member of the Bread of Life – Life of the World
Prayer Group at St. Lucy Church, in St. Clair Shores, Michigan.)
(The Church is the tenth of the twelve areas of prayer for which
the Lord has requested that all in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Archdiocese of Detroit intercede.
Those who are led to pray for this particular intention of "Church," please contact
Darlene Czop, the writer of this article, at #248-593-4888, to let her know that you will join with her
and others in praying for this topic.)
