SELF-DENIAL AND LOVE - One Bread, One Body, 2/26/2009

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

http://www.presentationministries.com/brochures/SecretFasting.asp
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Thursday, February 26, 2009

Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 1, Luke 9:22-25
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/022609.shtml

SELF-DENIAL AND LOVE

"Whoever wishes to be My follower must deny his very self, take up his
cross each day, and follow in My steps." —Luke 9:23

Jesus says those who wish to follow Him must first deny their very selves.
The world, however, tells us we should avoid self-denial at all costs. It
proclaims that the purpose of life is to maximize our pleasure and
minimize our pain. Yet Jesus says living a pleasure-seeking lifestyle is
the worst mistake we can make. "Whoever would save his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. What profit does he
show who gains the whole world and destroys himself in the process?" (Lk
9:24-25)

If we give up on feeling good, doing our own thing, and having fun, we
will discover the true meaning of life. The Lord said: "I have set before
you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life" (Dt 30:19).
Jesus, not self, is the Meaning of life. We choose life by denying
ourselves pleasure and by living in love. We should die for love rather
than live for pleasure.

This Lent, the Lord is giving us the opportunity to seek Him first (Mt
6:33) and be crucified to the world (Gal 6:14). Through almsgiving,
prayer, and fasting, we can come to the "surpassing knowledge" of Jesus
Christ (Phil 3:8). We will then reappraise as loss those things we once
considered gain (Phil 3:7). We will rate all as loss and forfeit
everything so Christ may be our Wealth (Phil 3:8).

Prayer: Father, reorder my life according to Your will, no matter how many
changes You must make.

Promise: "Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live." —Dt
30:19-20

Praise: Mary and Steven deprived themselves of numerous material goods in
order to give their sons a richer legacy: their faith.

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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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