"Freedom" at:
--> http://www.presentationministries.com/BST/latestBST.asp
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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Sunday, June 22, 2008, 12th Sunday Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 20:10-13, Romans 5:12-15, Psalm 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35, Matthew
10:26-33
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/062208.shtml
FEAR NOT
"Do not be afraid of anything." —Matthew 10:31
Our reaction to fear will be among the best or worst aspects of our lives.
We will either let ourselves be manipulated by fear into sinful
compromises and eventual damnation, or we will refuse to be controlled by
fear and eventually push it out of our lives (see 1 Jn 4:18). Therefore,
Jesus repeatedly commands us: "Do not let them intimidate you" (Mt 10:26).
"Do not fear those who deprive the body of life but cannot destroy the
soul" (Mt 10:28). "Do not be afraid of anything" (Mt 10:31).
Our response to fear should be faith. Jesus told Jairus after his daughter
died: "Fear is useless, only believe" (Mk 5:36, our transl.). When his
friends had turned against him in vengeance, Jeremiah had the faith to
fearlessly proclaim: "The Lord is with me, like a mighty Champion: my
persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph" (Jer 20:11). Even when we
are enduring our own agony in the garden or suffering on our own Calvary,
by faith we can refuse to be manipulated by fear. We can "say with
confidence: 'The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid; what can man do
to me?' " (Heb 13:6) By faith we can proclaim: "The Lord is my life's
Refuge; of whom should I be afraid?...Though an army encamp against me, my
heart will not fear" (Ps 27:1, 3). Fear not.
Prayer: Father, may my awareness that You are in me make me fearless. May
Your love push fear out of my life (see 1 Jn 4:18).
Promise: "For if by the offense of the one man all died, much more did the
grace of God and the gracious gift of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound
for all." —Rm 5:15
Praise: Praise Jesus, Who won victory over sin and death so that we may
live. Alleluia!
(For a related teaching, order our tape "Hold Fast to the Faith" on audio
AV 71-1 or video V-71.)
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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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