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Friday, November 7, 2008
Philippians 3:17—4:1, Psalm 122, Luke 16:1-8
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/110708.shtml
FAITH AS A FORCE FIELD
"The worldly take more initiative than the other-worldly when it comes to
dealing with their own kind." —Luke 16:8
Jesus taught His followers, "the other-worldly," to take initiative as do
business people in the world. Although we don't take initiative with the
same motives or for the same goals, we Christians are called by the Spirit
to move powerfully, to be impelled by love (2 Cor 5:14). By taking strong
initiative, we can force our way into God's kingdom (Lk 16:16). In other
words, by taking spiritual initiatives we can receive things from God that
we would otherwise never have received.
For example, the Syro-Phoenician woman forced her way into God's kingdom.
Through her prayerful initiative, she hastened the time for Jesus'
ministry to the Gentiles, and Jesus set her daughter free from the devil
(Mt 15:27-28). Hezekiah by his prayerful initiative received an extra
fifteen years of life (Is 38:2-5). Ahab by his initiative in fasting
postponed God's judgment on himself and his family (1 Kgs 21:27-29). Mary
through her prayerful initiative persuaded Jesus to turn water into wine
at the wedding feast of Cana (Jn 2:3ff).
When we take initiative and take God's kingdom by force, we don't force
God to change His mind, but we open ourselves up wide enough to receive
the fullness of God's grace. The faith we express in taking spiritual
initiative is a force field in which we can change our hearts. Then we
take God's kingdom by force.
Prayer: Father, may I express my faith in a forceful way.
Promise: "He will give a new form to this lowly body of ours and remake it
according to the pattern of His glorified body, by His power to subject
everything to Himself." —Phil 3:21
Praise: Bill owns a company. He starts his business meetings with prayer.
(Take initiative; teach the Bible. Order our tapes on the "Bible Teachers
Series". Our six-tape series starts with AV 117-1. Our three-part video
series starts with V-117.)
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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
October 1, 2008 through November 30, 2008
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, May 1, 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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