Consecration of the Church

Tuesday
Hebrews 10:19-25
A Call to Persevere
Brothers and Sisters:
Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Praise be to God always!
John 17:9-13
Jesus Prays for his Disciples
The Lord Jesus said:
I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. This is the truth. Peace be with you.

“Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds.” What a beautiful sentiment and motto. This is a beautiful sign of us being one as the Son and the Father are one. Furthermore in provoking one another to love and good deeds we are imitating Christ who constantly encourages and spurs us to love. The Church is a place where we can share Christ’s love and encourage each other to love more deeply and more completely.

Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
Glory to you, Creator of the light that dispels darkness
and give joy to your creatures.
Create in us, Lord, works of light;
disperse the clouds of sin and fill us with the glorious
radiance of your grace,
for in you we find refuge and call upon you, our Lord and our
God,
to you be glory for ever.
Amen.