Sundays are a family day around here. Since we attend church on Saturday nights, we stay in our pajamas until Sunday afternoon, only venturing out for a family activity like a walk or grocery shopping. Matt will often let me sleep in by taking the first baby shift, so gets to choose what’s on TV in the morning. Today, he was watching church. This is not uncommon at all. It’s nice to hear different preachers and their takes on the Bible. Plus, you hear different songs and see different styles of worship.

This morning, I was surprised to find that Matt was watching a Catholic mass. It was interesting to see how different it was from most churches I’ve visited. The piece that stuck out to me most was one sentence in one prayer, “We remember churches all over the world.” There are many parts of Catholic theology with which I do not agree, but remembering the Church, the whole body of believers, in prayer is something I believe is missing from many church services.

It is all too easy to focus on only one church (i.e. the one I’m a part of). We can fall into the trap of thinking our church is the coolest or the only one doing God’s kingdom work. I’m so thankful for the humbling reminder (in a Catholic mass, no less!) that God is moving in many churches, in many countries, and in many ways.

This morning I remember churches all over the world in prayer. I pray that we would proclaim the truth about Jesus clearly and that lives eternities would change as a result. I pray that we would have unity in the Church, so that in spite of our differences in minor issues, we would be able to be salt & light. I pray Paul’s challenge from Ephesians 4 would be true in my life and in the Church:

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Amen.