BELIEVING OR BE LEAVING - One Bread, One Body, 5/9/2009

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

Hope Is Focus of Youth Day
Economic Crisis Threatens Human Rights
In Defense of Life: F O C A
Prison to Praise: What Are You Giving Up for Lent?
Church Reaches Out To Suffering
Jesus Is The Answer To Suffering

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Saturday, May 9, 2009

Acts 13:44-52, Psalm 98, John 14:7-14
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/050909.shtml

BELIEVING OR BE LEAVING

"Believe Me." —John 14:11

Did you know that the word "believe" is used eighty-two times in the
Gospel of John? Indeed, the very purpose of John's Gospel is that all who
read it may "believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, so that
through this" belief you may have eternal life in His name (Jn 20:31).

When a book or passage of Scripture uses the same word that many times,
the Lord wants us to get the message. In today's Gospel reading, Jesus
refers to believing in Him four times.

If we believe in Jesus and prove that belief by living a new life in Him,
we will have eternal life with Him (Jn 6:47; 8:31; 20:31). If we refuse to
believe in Him, we will die in our sins (Jn 8:24) and spend eternity
separated from Jesus in hell.

John lists some reasons people refuse to believe in Jesus:
* not reading the Gospel or ignoring its message (Jn 5:38, 46-47),
* not being willing to come to Jesus for help (Jn 5:39-40),
* a lack of love (Jn 5:42),
* the pride of preferring human approval to God's approval (Jn
5:43-44), and
* a refusal to believe Jesus' witnesses (Jn 20:25).

Jesus said, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the One the
Father sent" (see Jn 6:29). Jesus implores us: "Believe Me" (Jn 14:11).

Prayer: Jesus, I do believe. Help my unbelief! (see Mk 9:24, RNAB)

Promise: "All who were destined for life everlasting believed in it. Thus
the word of the Lord was carried throughout that area." —Acts 13:48-49

Praise: Once George realized what Mass really was he began going daily
rather than only weekly.

(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 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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