"The Call # 10"

Build the Wall (Stand in the Gap)

Nehemiah (Please read Nehemiah chapter, 2:5; 4:10-20)

          The people of Judah sang, "We grow weak carrying burdens; there's so much rubble to take away. How can we build the wall today?" Nehemiah replied, "Don't be afraid of our enemies. Remember how great and terrible our Lord is..." Jerusalem was in ruins after the Babylonian captivity. Nehemiah sensed the call to give up his cushy job at court and to carry the burden--rebuild the walls of Jerusalem--protecting the city and his people.

          And the Lord God said to Francesco (St. Francis), "Francis, go and repair my house, which as you see, is falling into ruin." Francis had abandoned his life of luxury in Assisi to embrace "Lady Poverty". He began to rebuild the abandoned church, Santo Damiano, that was also in ruins. There was a much larger meaning to "My Church is in ruins", and Francis had to embrace a new charism to save it: "Blessed are the poor"--live out the gospels. Rebuild, reform, restart--many great saints were called to the same task to save the church: St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila to name a couple. Build the wall--protect the church from the breaches created by the enemy. Stand firm--stand in the gap. We are all called to the same mission of intercession for our Church.  

 Questions:

1)   Do you sense the burden to pray for our Church? If so, do you heed the call?

2)   Are you willing to stand in the gap to repair the breaches from the enemy?