August 2, 2008. The featured speaker this year is Dan Schneider. Much is
offered during this spirit-filled event so visit the link below for more
information. Online registration is now available.
http://www.presentationministries.com/bibleinst
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Monday, July 7, 2008
Hosea 2:16-18, 21-22, Psalm 145, Matthew 9:18-26
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/070708.shtml
BLOW UP THE DAM!
"I will espouse you in right." —Hosea 2:21
I studied forestry in college. My colleagues clearly understood the
delicate balance of a natural ecosystem. Artificially altering even part
of an ecosystem threatens the health of the whole forest. For example,
when a river is dammed, its life-giving flow is blocked. Above and below
the dam, plant and animal life and critical habitat are altered, often
catastrophically. Despite this knowledge, my colleagues ardently supported
zero population growth. They favored limiting human reproduction through
artificial contraception or sterilization. They reasoned that humans ruin
natural ecosystems faster than anything else, and thus God's beautiful
ecosystem of human procreation should be dammed.
Almighty God has a divine ecology and economy that brings all His creation
into unity with the perfect unity of the Holy Trinity (Catechism, 260).
All creation interacts harmoniously when subject to His beautiful order.
God pours out His superabundant, overflowing river of love to all
humanity, trying to allure us back into His loving order (Rm 5:5; Hos
2:16). As my forestry colleagues instinctively realized, it's the human
beings that block the divine ecology. Just as a husband and wife utilize
contraceptive barriers to limit or block their reproductive powers, we
build dams and walls to try to control or block His love. What follows is
a catastrophe: divorce, depression, loss of faith, disobedience, and a
dirty landscape left behind for the next generation.
Are you swamped? Are you struggling to keep your head above water? Repent
of blocking God's order. Blow up the dam! Let the fresh, flowing water of
the Holy Spirit restore God's refreshing harmony to your life (Jn 7:37).
Prayer: Father, it's only a small step from dammed to damned. Let Your
river of everlasting life flow through me (Ez 47:8ff).
Promise: "Your faith has restored you to health." —Mt 9:22
Praise: Mary and Tom did not block God's grace through artificial
contraception and were blessed with ten children.
(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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