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Monday, April 13, 2009

YOU, YES, YOU - One Bread, One Body, 4/13/2009

Join us for the 23rd Annual Bible Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 24 -
August 1, 2009. The featured speakers this year include Michael Cumbie,
Dan Schneider, Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk and Archbishop Dennis Schnurr.
Much is offered during this spirit-filled event so visit the link below
for more information. Online registration is open.

http://www.presentationministries.com/bibleinst
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Monday, April 13, 2009, Easter Week

Acts 2:14, 22-33, Psalm 16, Matthew 28:8-15
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/041309.shtml

YOU, YES, YOU

"You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem! Listen to what
I have to say." —Acts 2:14

On this second day of the fifty-day Easter season, the Lord seems to be
calling Jews to repent. In today's Gospel reading, Matthew says many Jews
have believed the lie that Jesus did not rise from the dead but that His
body was stolen (Mt 28:15). Peter in his Pentecost sermon bluntly blamed
the Jews for crucifying and killing Jesus (Acts 2:23). At first, these
Scriptures may appear anti-Semitic, but Matthew and Peter were not saying
Jews are the only ones to blame for Jesus' death. They were zeroing in on
Jews simply because they were talking to Jews.

When we hear the call to repent, we naturally think of the speck in
someone else's eye rather than the plank in our own (Mt 7:5). We need
someone to challenge us to focus on our own sinfulness. Consequently, if
Peter and Matthew were speaking to Americans today, they would not speak
primarily to Jews, but they would zero in on Americans. They would tell us
to repent or else.

If we don't come out from the tomb of sin, we will not believe Jesus has
come out from the tomb of death. That's why Jesus focused on repentance on
the first Easter evening when He said to the apostles, "If you forgive
men's sins, they are forgiven them; if you hold them bound, they are held
bound" (Jn 20:23).

You, yes, you! Repent and believe in the risen Christ.


Prayer: Father, may my Easter Confession open my eyes to the risen Lord.

Promise: "Suddenly, without warning, Jesus stood before them and said,
'Peace!' " —Mt 28:9

Praise: Praise to the risen Jesus Who appeared to His cowardly disciples!
"Death has no more power over Him" (Rm 6:9).

(For a related teaching, order our tape "The Necessity of Confession for
Renewal" on audio AV 70-1 or video V-70.)

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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 April
1, 2009 through May 31, 2009
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, October 3, 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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