"rebuild my church"
"Send me...to rebuild it." —Nehemiah 2:5
Nehemiah set out to rebuild the ruined city of Jerusalem (Neh 2:5ff). God instilled in him a heart of concern for Jerusalem and prepared his way by granting him favor in the eyes of King Artaxerxes.
While in prayer, St. Francis of Assisi, today's saint, heard God command him: "Rebuild My Church." Francis immediately set out to repair and rebuild several church buildings that had fallen into disrepair. Eventually in prayer, Francis discerned that the Lord meant for him to rebuild the people in the Church rather than its buildings. So Francis built up a religious order whose ministry brought new life to the people of God.
Are you called to rebuild the Church? Perhaps your particular role in rebuilding the Church is to work to rebuild your family (see Is 58:12), which is the "domestic Church" (see Catechism, 2204, 2685). Some of you may be called to minister in the Church. As He did with Nehemiah and Francis, God will supply what you need (see Phil 4:19) and prepare your way. Therefore, put your hand to the plow (Lk 9:62) and get to the work of rebuilding (Hg 2:4).
Prayer: Father, give me a disciple's heart. St. Francis, pray for me to love Jesus much more deeply.
Promise: "The king granted my requests, for the favoring hand of my God was upon me." —Neh 2:8
Praise: St. Francis followed Jesus by being true to the Church, in his respect for and obedience to the Church's authorities.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
(Prepare to rebuild the Church by reading the Bible every day. We have several tape series to help you. Overview of the Bible is six audio tapes starting with AV 10A-1 or three video tapes starting with V-10A. 15-minute Bible Teaching - New Testament is forty audio tapes starting with #700. It is also available on our website. An Introduction to each Book of the Bible is 32 audio tapes starting with AV 21-1 or 17 video tapes starting with V-21.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 12, 2017
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.