BANNED - One Bread, One Body, 1/21/2008

Read the latest issue of Pope Benedict XVI, Shepherd of Truth entitled
"The Family and Peace" at:
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Pope Benedict XVI, Shepherd of Truth is designed as a bulletin insert
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Father is saying. You are free to reproduce it for this purpose.
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Monday, January 21, 2008, St. Agnes

1 Samuel 15:16-23, Psalm 50, Mark 2:18-22
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/012108.shtml

BANNED

"Go and put the sinful Amalekites under a ban of destruction." —1 Samuel
15:18

In the Old Testament, the Lord often told the Israelites to put their
enemies "under the ban," that is, to completely destroy all the people and
livestock of their enemies. This practice seems strange to us, but it is a
profound revelation about the nature of sin. Sin is something like cancer.
Unless we get all of it, it will spread and destroy us.

In the New Testament, we no longer fight against human beings but against
demons (see Eph 6:12). Therefore, we don't put people "under the ban";
instead, we ban "Satan, all his works, and all his empty promises," as we
promised at baptism. We "have no love for the world, nor the things that
the world affords" (1 Jn 2:15). We save ourselves "from this generation
which has gone astray" (Acts 2:40). We "make no provision for the desires
of the flesh" (Rm 13:14). We crucify our "flesh with its passions and
desires" (Gal 5:24). We exterminate from our lives anything not pleasing
to the Lord. We "bring every thought into captivity to make it obedient to
Christ" (2 Cor 10:5).

We can "purify ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit" (2 Cor
7:1) because Jesus put every sin which has ever or will ever be committed
"under the ban." Jesus took all our sins to Calvary. He became sin (see 2
Cor 5:21) and in His death all sin died. Put sin under the ban, and walk
under the banner of God's love (Sg 2:4, JB).

Prayer: Father, by repentance may I let You remove all the cancer of sin
from my life.

Promise: "The day will come, however, when the Groom will be taken away
from them; on that day they will fast." —Mk 2:20

Praise: St. Agnes' holiness put to shame the brothel to which she was
sentenced for being a Christian. As a result, she was martyred for her
purity and faith in Jesus.

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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from
December 1, 2008 through January 31, 2008
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July
30, 2007

The rescript 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 ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.

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