Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father

is brother and sister and mother to me.  Matthew 12:50

Those whom God foreknew, God predestined to share in the image of his Son,

that the Son might be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters.  Romans 8:29

By virtue of receiving the body and blood of Jesus in Holy Communion

I acknowledge that Jesus has made me flesh of his own flesh and blood of his

own blood, and that he has likewise made me the flesh and blood of those fellow believers who receive with me.  In this way Jesus has created a bond of kinship between us.  He has made us a “Holy Family.” 

Catholics Have Family Responsibilities

Family responsibilities flow from this.  Saint Paul writes:

Love one another with the affection of brothers.

Anticipate each other in showing respect …

Look to the needs of the saints as your own…

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Have the same attitude toward all.  Romans 12:10-16

And Saint Peter says:

Above all, let your love for one another be constant…

As generous distributors of God’s manifold grace,

Put your gifts at the service of one another,

Each in the measure he or she has received.  1 Peter 8:8-10

I

I resolve to look around me at work, at school, in my extended family and in

my business and social circles for those who are Christian believers, and therefore brothers and sisters to me in Christ.  I resolve to identify them as Christians not

by label of church association but by the fact that they noticeably strive to live

the Word of Christ in their manner of being and in their way of engaging others. 

I resolve to make myself known to them as a fellow Christian that we may be mutually assured that we do not stand alone in our discipleship of Jesus and our witness to him.

II

At work, at school, in my extended family and in my business and social circles

I resolve to notice men and women, regardless of their religious affiliation, who are seeking in their attitude and actions to live justly and do what is right toward all.  As a Catholic I know that the Truth and the Justice it calls for is a seamless whole, applicable to all people who seek a truly human life.  This Truth and Justice that flows from it belongs to my inheritance as a Christian.  I therefore take delight wherever Justice is being done, and by whomever it is being lived and practiced.  I resolve to praise God for it when I see it and encourage those who do it in any way I can. 

III

At work, at school, in my extended family and in my business and social circles

I resolve to look for God’s unexpected Grace touching even the most unlikely people.  I resolve to be among the first to notice these individuals who are trying to allow Grace to transform their character and their manner of speaking and acting.  As a Catholic I know that Grace in not the exclusive possession of Christians.  While it is the substance of our lives and our hopes, it none-the-less moves to redeem life where God wills.  I rejoice in this and I resolve to do anything in my power to encourage any man and woman whom Grace has touched to work with that Grace to the end of their personal conversion of life.

Notice that Catholic Faith, for the most part, calls us to do things that require little expenditure of time and energy, but things that none-the-less make a large impact because of the Divine Grace that flows into them and through them.  Our Catholic life of prayer and worship is designed to maintain our awareness of the presence of our Savior, Jesus, and preserve our alertness to the people and things around us that call for our attention in these small but powerful ways. 

See what love the Father has bestowed on us

in letting us be called children of God. 

1 John 1:3