HUMBLE PIE - One Bread, One Body, 3/21/2009

The March issue of My People Newspaper is now online. Articles include:

Fasting Opens People Up
Trust In God Is Answer To Challenges
In Defense of Life: Organ Transplants
Debt Continues To Enslave
Prison To Praise: Action On The Set
Christian Family Is Called to Be "A Living Gospel"

http://www.presentationministries.com/mypeople/latestMyPeople.asp
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Hosea 6:1-6, Psalm 51, Luke 18:9-14
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/032109.shtml

HUMBLE PIE

"For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled while he who humbles
himself shall be exalted." —Luke 18:14

When we pray and as we follow Jesus, our lives must be characterized by
humility. Humility is not humiliation; it is not "putting ourselves down"
(see Sir 10:27). Humility is facing reality. It is having the right
perspective of ourselves in relation to the awesome God. The Lord tells us
to humble ourselves (Lk 18:14). We can do this through confession and
repentance. For example, all the publican "did was beat his breast and
say, 'O God, be merciful to me, a sinner' " (Lk 18:13).

We also humble ourselves by taking the lowest place (Lk 14:10), avoiding
titles which could be temptations to pride (Mt 23:7ff), washing others'
feet (Jn 13:14), forgiving others, apologizing, taking correction,
enduring injustices against ourselves (see 1 Cor 6:7), being fools for
Christ (1 Cor 4:10), choosing to be materially poor (Mt 5:3), exposing
ourselves to persecution (Mt 5:10-11), associating with the lowly (Rm
12:16), offering no resistance to injury (Mt 5:39), loving our enemies (Mt
5:44), submitting ourselves to authority (Rm 13:1), etc. In effect, we
humble ourselves by taking up the daily cross (see Lk 9:23).

Humbling ourselves is a series of decisions which becomes a way of life, a
new lifestyle. Jesus commands: "Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble
of heart" (Mt 11:29).

Prayer: Father, help me to imitate Jesus by humbling myself even to death
(Phil 2:8).

Promise: "It is love that I desire." —Hos 6:6

Praise: After years away from Confession, Susan repented, humbled herself,
returned to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and was made new.

(For a related teaching, order our tape "Arrogance" on audio AV 52-1 or
video V-52.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

You can find One Bread, One Body archives, the letter to readers, OBOB
eBook edition, and an online donation form at
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2000 Presentation Ministries

To add your e-mail address to this list go to
http://www.presentationministries.com/general/emailList.asp

To remove your e-mail address from this list go to
http://www.presentationministries.com/general/emailList.asp?mode=r