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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Saturday, August 9, 2008, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
Habakkuk 1:12—2:4, Psalm 9, Matthew 17:14-20
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/080908.shtml
"HOW LONG, O LORD?" (Ps 13:2)
It "will not disappoint." —Habakkuk 2:3
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Prv 13:12). It is so difficult
sometimes to have to wait so long for God's plan to unfold. Did you ever
feel that you might die before the situation improves? Yet "the Lord does
not delay in keeping His promise — though some consider it 'delay' " (2 Pt
3:9). "If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be
late" (Hab 2:3).
How do we wait for something we need so badly, something we know for
certain is God's will, and something that we just can't live another day
without? We must wait patiently and confidently, not complaining. To do
otherwise would be to insult God by displaying a lack of faith in His
ability to deliver. We renew our strength by 'waiting' upon the Lord (Is
40:31, RSV-C).
The Hebrew word translated as 'wait' or 'hope' in Isaiah 40:31 can mean to
twist together, as cords of a rope are intertwined. In our waiting, then,
we wrap ourselves around the Lord and He wraps Himself around us. When
discouraging forces pull at us, we are not pulled apart. Instead, like
strands of a rope, we and the Lord are pulled more tightly together and
grow in strength. We never "come to the end of our rope" because the Lord
has roped us tightly into His presence.
"Hence do not grow despondent or abandon the struggle" (Heb 12:3). Stay
focused on Jesus (Heb 12:2) and confident in Him. Don't even move an inch
out of your position of hope. "Look out that you yourselves do not lose
what you have worked for; you must receive your reward in full" (2 Jn 8).
Prayer: Father, I will be still and know that You are God (Ps 46:11). I
will hope in silence for Your saving help (Lam 3:26).
Promise: "Jesus reprimanded him, and the demon came out of him. That very
moment the boy was cured." —Mt 17:18
Praise: St. Teresa gave her life to Jesus, converted to the Catholic
faith, gave up a flourishing academic career, and served Him as a nun.
(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
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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