When family life decays, so does love for the Church. The family and the Church are interwoven as one large family composed of many individual families. The union of heart, the love and concern, the mutual upbuilding of members is the same in both.

Family life is based on the same spiritual foundation as the Church. Paul explained this as a mystery and told the first Christians that a man must love his wife in the same way Christ loves His Bride, the Church. "He made her clean by washing her in, water (Baptism) with the form of words, so that when he took her to himself she would be glorious, with no speck or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and faultless." (Eph. 5:25) This is how a husband is to love his wife for if he hates her, he hates himself. "A man never hates his own body, but he feeds it and looks after it; and that is the way Christ treats the Church, because it is his body and we are its living parts.?" (Eph. 5:28- 29)

So it is with the Church as she feeds us with the Sacraments and builds us up with sound doctrine and truth, we in turn become living images of her Spouse, Jesus. We spring forth from Bride and Bridegroom, bearing the likeness of the Father and the seal of the Spirit on our souls. When we are faithful and true sons and daughters of this holy Mother, our family life will begin to reflect the peace, joy, harmony and love this Mother places in our souls.

When we hate her we only hate ourselves for we are part of her Body and Jesus is our Head. To alienate ourselves from Him and His Bride is to cut ourselves off from the Vine. How can we possibly expect the return of family harmony when we despise the source of harmony.

We must be zealous to spread her message, fervent so we may radiate that message, loving so others may see that message in our lives, loyal so that message is obeyed no matter how difficult. When this spirit of love and zeal possesses our hearts, we will all have the courage to be a yeast in the dough of our families and mankind.

Change begins with individuals, radiates to others and in turn gives them the courage to change. Harmony, loyalty, love and peace in the Church and in the family must grow together. In proportion as one or the other succeeds or fails, in that proportion will each bear fruit or decay.

The Spirit who guides the Church will bear fruit in Church and families together as they are the Body of Christ on earth.

"Now the Church is his body, he is its head....l am suffering now, in my own body to do what I can to make up all that has still to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church." (Col. 1:18,24) "The saints (the faithful) together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ." (Eph. 4:12) Yes, we all work together, building, giving hope, courage and strength to Church and family - the Body of Christ.

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