and Answers on Building Small Christian Communities is now online. It is
a great resource for Small Chrisitan Communities.
http://www.presentationministries.com/brochures/UnlessTheLordBuild.asp
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Friday, August 8, 2008, St. Dominic
Nahum 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7, Deuteronomy 32:35-36, 39, 41, Matthew 16:24-28
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/080808.shtml
BLOODY MERCY
"Nineveh is destroyed; who can pity her?" —Nahum 3:7
Bad news for the Ninevites was good news for the Israelites. Nineveh, the
capital city of Assyria, was accurately described as "the bloody city, all
lies, full of plunder, whose looting never stops!" (Na 3:1) Nineveh was
notorious for "the many slain, the heaping corpses, the endless bodies to
stumble upon!" (Na 3:3) The day of Nineveh's destruction would be
celebrated by Israel.
By reading Nahum's prophecy, we can understand why Jonah refused to accept
God's call to preach repentance to the Ninevites (Jon 1:2-3). Jonah wasn't
afraid his message would not be accepted, but that it would. Then the
bloody Ninevites would not be destroyed and go to hell as they deserved,
but be forgiven and spared (Jon 4:1-3).
We can see why Jonah was so vengeful. For example, if a person raped and
murdered your daughter, then repented, escaped hell, and received eternal
happiness by the mercy of Jesus, how would you react? Would you feel the
vengeance of Jonah and of the prodigal son's older brother? (Lk 15:28)
The Lord is much more merciful than we are. He will love and forgive even
the most brutal and bloody of nations and people. Will you decide today to
receive the grace to do the same? "Blest are they who show mercy; mercy
shall be theirs" (Mt 5:7).
Prayer: Lord, have mercy on me. Through me, have mercy on my most vicious
enemy.
Promise: "Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his
life for My sake will find it." —Mt 16:24-25
Praise: St. Dominic dedicated his life to living for the truths of the
Faith. He prayed for the worst heretics of his time and brought them back
to the truth.
(Is America the new Nineveh? America has received a call to repent! Hear
it and spread it by attending our "Gospel of Life" retreat Sept. 26 & 27.
Call 513-373-2397 to register.)
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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
August 1, 2008 through September 30, 2008
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, February 25, 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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