"Grandparents" at:
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Pope Benedict XVI, Shepherd of Truth is designed as a bulletin insert
which you can use at your local church to keep up to date on what the Holy
Father is saying. You are free to reproduce it for this purpose.
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Monday, June 9, 2008, St. Ephrem
1 Kings 17:1-6, Psalm 121, Matthew 5:1-12
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/060908.shtml
BLESS US, O LORD?
"He began to teach them." —Matthew 5:2
In Matthew's Gospel, today's reading of the Beatitudes is the first time
Jesus teaches His disciples and us. Jesus, the great Teacher, knows a
strong first impression and solid introduction are critical. So Jesus'
initial teaching is something very important. His first teaching is about
how to be blessed.
The word "blessed" that Jesus speaks in the Beatitudes can also be
translated "happy" (see Mt 5:3-11). In the Beatitudes, Jesus guarantees
happiness and blessedness. Many books in today's culture that promise
happiness are big sellers. With such a large market for happiness, you'd
think that Bibles would be flying off the shelves of bookstores, Bible
study groups on the Beatitudes would be standing room only, and our
parishes would have hundreds enrolled in RCIA programs each year.
This isn't the case. The logical explanation is that most people don't
believe Jesus when He tells us how to be blessed and happy. It's as if
people read the Beatitudes and think, "If being meek, sorrowing, and
persecuted is how I have to live to be happy, then I'd rather not be
'blessed.' "
In what do we put more faith: the message of our secular culture or the
message of Jesus? Look at Elijah in today's first reading. He was
persecuted by the government for his prophetic message and forced into
hiding for years. Yet he was blessed, for God miraculously fed him each
day (1 Kgs 17:6).
Don't live a half-life (1 Jn 3:14), settling "for what fails to satisfy"
(Is 55:2). Have faith in Jesus (Jn 14:1). Live the Beatitudes.
Prayer: Jesus, may I never take Your place and try to manufacture my own
blessings. Grace me to daily live the Beatitudes.
Promise: "My help is from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth." —Ps 121:2
Praise: St. Ephrem learned to seek the Lord in the desert and to share Him
in the city.
(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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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 June
1, 2008 through July 31, 2008
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, January 4, 2008
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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