THE FAST TRACK TO JOY - One Bread, One Body, 2/25/2009

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

http://www.presentationministries.com/brochures/SecretFasting.asp
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Wednesday, February 25, 2009, Ash Wednesday

Joel 2:12-18, 2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2, Psalm 51, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/022509.shtml

THE FAST TRACK TO JOY

"Give me back the joy of Your salvation." —Psalm 51:14

Today, hundreds of millions of Catholics throughout the world unite
together in a forty-day period of repentance, fasting, and reparation. The
Church calls an assembly, proclaims a fast, and preaches a return to God
(Jl 2:13-16). She focuses all her power into synchronized prayer and
fasting, the first and most effective weapons against the power of evil
(Gospel of Life, Pope John Paul II, 100). If millions of Catholics fasted
seriously this Lent in united holiness, Satan's kingdom of darkness would
be rocked to its core. Uncounted demons would be driven out (Mt 17:21,
NAB).

Imagine a scenario where Satan's strongholds have been cleaned out and
restored to the lordship of Jesus (2 Cor 10:4-5). "Planned Parenthood"
would become "Holy Family Parenthood." The entertainment industry would
only create movies rated "H" for Holy. Manufacturers of artificial
contraceptives would close down for lack of business. Poverty and
injustice would be eliminated because millions of people repented and
refused to tolerate them anymore. Today would indeed be a day of joy,
"the day of salvation!" (2 Cor 6:2)

God says: "Return to Me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping,
and mourning" (Jl 2:12). This begets sorrow, but "sorrow for God's sake
produces a repentance without regrets, leading to salvation" (2 Cor 7:10).
When sorrow leads us to salvation, we pray for the Lord to give us back
the joy of our salvation (Ps 51:14), a joy that no one can take from us
(Jn 16:22).

Prayer: "Have mercy on me, O God,...Thoroughly wash me from my guilt, and
of my sin cleanse me" (Ps 51:3-4).

Promise: "Your Father Who sees in secret will repay you." —Mt 6:4

Praise: Praise the Holy Spirit, Who leads us into the desert with the Son
to find the Father.

(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
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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