Scattered, but United

In a recent Mass reading, we heard of some of the persecution and difficulties of the early Church. We are reminded that, during a time of, “severe persecution… all were scattered…” That first reading then goes on to say, “Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word…”

During a time of great difficulty, the early Christians continued to preach the word in all their actions and deeds.

April was the Month of the Military Child. May included Military Spouse Appreciation Day. Now, in June, many of us are loading up household goods, boarding planes and heading off to new duty stations.

So, here at MCCW we want to draw your eye to the dandelion.

We, as a worldwide group of Catholic women, are scattered… we are members of a diocese that spans the globe! And, we are preparing, as a collective group of military-connected individuals to scatter again during the PCS season.

Yet, in the middle of the dandelion stands our reminder to be, “A visible presence of Christ.” As MCCW-Worldwide, we are that visible presence of Christ, much like our early Church! We stand as a visible presence of Christ – connected, united, and ready to inspire wherever the winds blow us – in our thoughts, in our words, and in our actions.

— How often are each of us, at our duty stations, preaching the word in our thoughts?

— How are we preaching the word in our words?

— How are we preaching the word in our actions?

Let us draw from the early Christians’ example in the first reading, and take some time to reflect on how we, as individuals and as a collective group of Catholic military women, can be that visible presence of Christ in our military communities.