Connected to Those in the Bible

“That is sooo first century!” That’s not a comment you hear everyday.

The lives of the men and women in the Bible have a great deal more in common with our lives than you would expect. Each of them dealt with real problems, real pain, real fears, stress, worries about jobs, kids, family, aging parents, the death of a spouse, and a culture creeping in on their religious identity. Sound at all familiar?

As Catholics, we believe we are in a mystical way connected to these “Bible characters” who were not really “characters” at all in their day. They were just moms and dads, husbands and wives, farm workers, shop owners, cops, IRS men, beauty queens — and ”The Deadliest Catch” guys of their day.

Related: A Faith-Filled Life Without the Phone

How are we connected, you might ask?

Through the wonderful reality we confess in the Apostle’s Creed — the communion of saints.

Did you know that the church is made up of three parts?

1.) The church militant (that’s us here on earth now — still fighting the good fight! 1 Timothy 6:12)

2.) The church penitent (those holy souls in purgatory who are going through purification before reaching their final reward)

3.) The church triumphant (those who are already in heaven — and we hope that will be us someday, too)

Related: Stuck in a Religious Rut?

We all make up one body — the church, the communion of saints with Christ as our head.

We sing, “One bread, one body” – but do you ever really stop to think what that means? Christ is eternal. It is such an amazing thought. He is both imminent and transcendent, meaning He is here now and in heaven, above us, eternally, forever.

The Bible says in Genesis 1:26, “Then God said: Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness.”

So He was since the beginning of time — He is part of the “us and our” in that statement. And in the book of Revelation 1:8, Jesus states, “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘the one who is and who was and who is to come, The Almighty.’”

So Christ has always been, is now ever present and will always be. And we, as part of that body of Christ, get to participate along with the great communion of saints — a part of salvation’s history unfolding.

Related: The Sunday Sermon You’ll Never Forget

So what are you doing to make salvation’s story unfold in this generation and in the generations to come? Do you know our “yes” is as important as theirs was in spreading the great news, that Jesus Christ loves us, forgives us and comes to set us free?

Listen to this song by Sara Groves (the words are below) and be inspired.

Christ is eternal. It is such an amazing thought.

May our great, great, great, granddaughters and sons live in peace and union with God because of what Christ has done for us — and perhaps in part to our prayers and cooperation with God’s grace in this the life that we have been given to live for His glory. Generations will reap what we sow — pass on the blessings!

“So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well.” (2 Timothy 2:1-2)

Dear Lord,

I want to be a part of the story, but I am afraid I don’t have what it takes! I’m not Mary or Paul! And I’m ignorant of Your word. I’m fearful and I really don’t know exactly what You are calling me to do. But Jesus, please come now and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. And by Your grace I will trust that each and every day You will give me what I need to follow You.

At my baptism, You gave me all I need to become a saint: Yourself! I want to pass on a blessing in this world. I want to say YES to You. I want what I do to have meaning and purpose — not just for the here and now, but for generations to come, a life that will bring You much glory. Come, Lord, help me to say “yes,” because only by Your grace and in the power of Your Holy Spirit can I ever be able to do what You ask of me.

Thank You for Your Holy Word in which I can get to know You better and connect to You. Thank you for the great communion of saints that are praying for me and also for giving me Your Body, the church, here on earth that will encourage, inspire and love me. And by Your grace, may I encourage, inspire and love them, too.

I ask this in the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Generations”

I can taste the fruit of Eve / I’m aware of sickness, death and disease

The results of her choices are vast / Eve was the first but she wasn’t the last

And if I were honest with myself / Had I been standing at that tree

My mouth and my hands would be covered with fruit

Things I shouldn’t know and things I shouldn’t see

Remind me of this with every decision / Generations will reap what I sow

I can pass on a curse or a blessing / To those I will never know

She taught me to fear the serpent / I’m learning to fear myself

And all of the things I am capable of / In my search for wisdom, acceptance and wealth

And to say that the devil made me do it / Is a cop-out and a lie

The devil can’t make me do anything / When I’m calling on Jesus Christ

Remind me of this with every decision / Generations will reap what I sow

I can pass on a curse or a blessing / To those I will never know

To my great, great, great granddaughter / Live in peace

To my great, great, great grandson / Live in peace, oh, live in peace

Remind me of this with every decision / Generations will reap what I sow

I can pass on a curse or a blessing / To those I will never know

Oh, remind me / Generations will reap what I sow

I can pass on a curse or a blessing / To those I will never know

Oh, I may never know.

Melissa Overmyer is founder of Something Greater Ministries in Washington, D.C., and has taught the Bible for over 30 years.