DOING IMITATIONS - One Bread, One Body, 2/27/2009

For Lent read our brochure entitled, "The Secret of Fasting"

http://www.presentationministries.com/brochures/SecretFasting.asp
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Friday, February 27, 2009

Isaiah 58:1-9, Psalm 51, Matthew 9:14-15
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/022709.shtml

DOING IMITATIONS

"Do you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? This, rather, is
the fasting that I wish." —Isaiah 58:5-6

Lent means imitating Jesus when He fasted forty days in the desert. It's
difficult for us to imitate anyone because we want to do our own thing. We
would have to die to self to imitate Christ. It's also difficult for us to
imitate Jesus' forty-day fast because we like to eat. Even if we do
imitate Jesus exteriorly by fasting in some way for the forty days of
Lent, we still may not be imitating His interior spirit. When Jesus fasted
for forty days, He resisted Satan's temptations to doubt His identity as
the beloved Son of God (Lk 4:3, 9). We must imitate not only Jesus'
fasting but also His assurance concerning His relationship with the Father
and His victory over Satan.

When we fast, we should not try to get the Lord to look at us. "Why do we
fast, and You do not see it? afflict ourselves, and You take no note of
it?" (Is 58:3) We should be looking intently at Him, to imitate Him
exactly. When we have such humility and love that we want to imitate Jesus
to a "T," then our voice will be "heard on high" (Is 58:4). When our
Father sees in us such a good imitation of Jesus, He is well pleased and
His favor rests on us (see Lk 3:22). When we imitate Jesus, we pray and
fast in Jesus' name, and thus all that we ask the Father in Jesus' name,
He will give us (Jn 15:16).

Prayer: Father, help me act and look like Jesus, the "exact
Representation" of You (Heb 1:3).

Promise: "Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound
shall quickly be healed." —Is 58:8

Praise: Fr. Mike, in imitation of Jesus, fasts frequently for his
parishioners.

(For a related teaching, order our leaflet "The Secret of Fasting "or our
audio tape AV 46-1 or video V-46.)

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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
February 1, 2009 through March 31, 2009
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, August 11, 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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