events.
One Bread, One Body Sports A New Look With Its Cover Art
New Hope Enkindled: Retreat Center—An Update
There's Light at the End of... the Roller Coaster Ride
Cleveland HBCs Strengthen Their Network
Mission Trip to Louisa, Kentucky
Guadalupe Bible College News
Graduation Ceremony 2007
Podcasts Light A Fire
Five-Year Anniversary, October 13, 2007
Jack Stiens: a Fabulous Recruiter for Presentation Ministries, Both Before
and After Death
http://www.presentationministries.com/newsletter/latestNewsletter.asp
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20, Psalm 40, Mark 1:29-39
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/011608.shtml
THE MIRACLE OF PARISH RENEWAL
"Speak, for Your servant is listening." —1 Samuel 3:10
The Church in Samuel's day was a mess. The high priest Eli "was asleep in
his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see"
(1 Sm 3:2). Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, "treated the offerings to the
Lord with disdain" because of their gluttony (1 Sm 2:17). They also had
sexual "relations with the women serving at the entry of the meeting tent"
(1 Sm 2:22). No wonder "a revelation of the Lord was uncommon and vision
infrequent" (1 Sm 3:1).
Some of us also experience a lethargic, blind, greedy, and lustful church.
We may not be as wicked as those in Samuel's "church," but we, like them,
don't receive the Lord's revelations and visions that frequently. Under
these circumstances, we feel like either leaving the Church or going to
sleep. However, we should do what Samuel did. Samuel answered God's call,
regardless of how wicked the "church" was. Then the Lord "revealed His
presence" to him (1 Sm 3:10). "Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him,
not permitting any word of his to be without effect" (1 Sm 3:19).
The Lord is renewing His Church even under the worst circumstances. He's
working through people who stay in Church but don't stay asleep. He's
working renewal through those who have faith enough to obey Him even when
there seems no hope.
Prayer: Father, may I love the Church so much I will give my life for her
(Eph 5:25).
Promise: "Rising early the next morning, He went off to a lonely place in
the desert; there He was absorbed in prayer." —Mk 1:35
Praise: For years, Joseph prayed for the faith of his children and
grandson. Jesus answered his prayers, and Joseph rejoiced to see his
grandson start bringing his parents back to the Church.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
You can find One Bread, One Body archives, the letter to readers, OBOB
eBook edition, and an online donation form at
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2008 Presentation Ministries
To add your e-mail address to this list go to
http://www.presentationministries.com/general/emailList.asp
To remove your e-mail address from this list go to
http://www.presentationministries.com/general/emailList.asp?mode=r
No comments:
Post a Comment