HIGH CHURCH AND LOW CHURCH - One Bread, One Body, 2/6/2009

Call one of PM's Bible Telephone lines. The 4-minute message includes
Bible teaching on the Eucharistic readings and prayer for listener's
requests.

http://www.presentationministries.com/bibleline/bibleline.asp
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Friday, February 6, 2009, St. Paul Miki & Companions

Hebrews 13:1-8, Psalm 27, Mark 6:14-29
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/020609.shtml

HIGH CHURCH AND LOW CHURCH

"Love your fellow Christians always." —Hebrews 13:1

Think of the themes of the Sunday homilies preached in your parish this
new year. Examine your parish bulletin. What's going on in your parish?
List the five highest priorities in your parish, based not on the parish
mission-statement but on what gets the most time, attention, and
financing. Five priorities listed at the end of the letter to the Hebrews
are:
* showing hospitality (Heb 13:2),
* being mindful of prisoners (Heb 13:3),
* honoring marriage "in every way" (Heb 13:4),
* being content and not loving money (Heb 13:5), and
* remembering and imitating our leaders (Heb 13:7).

In Hebrews, we see a church which is poor, sharing, persecuted, committed,
pure, content, and obedient. Most churches today have quite different
concerns. Few Christians in our churches radically live the gospel. Few
marriages in our parishes are notably different from those in the world.
In our materialistic society, most Christians are consumers first and
Christians second. We seem to always want more possessions and pleasures.
But we don't want anyone, including our pastoral leaders, telling us what
to do. Our church is different from the church addressed in the letter to
the Hebrews. Why?

Prayer: Father, may my life and my church be based on the Bible.

Promise: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." —Heb
13:8

Praise: St. Paul Miki and his companions were executed by crucifixion for
love of Jesus. The march to their execution inspired the many who
witnessed it, and is remembered through the ages.

(For a related teaching, order our tape "The Church in God's Plan "on
audio AV 67-3 or video V-67.)

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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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