GREAT, GREATER, GREATEST - One Bread, One Body, 6/24/2009

Add the Daily Bread podcast to iTunes with the following link
itpc://www.presentationministries.com/dbread/dbreadpodcast.asp

Even better if you like the podcast subscribe to it and write a review on
iTunes to help promote the show. We'd like to see it become one of the
top ranked Catholic shows on iTunes.
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=102785540
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, June 24, 2009, Birth of St. John the Baptizer

Isaiah 49:1-6, Acts 13:22-26, Psalm 139:1-3, 13-15, Luke 1:57-66, 80
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/062409.shtml

GREAT, GREATER, GREATEST

"Was not the hand of the Lord upon him?" —Luke 1:66

John the Baptizer was born of a barren woman (Lk 1:7). His father,
Zechariah, was deaf and dumb throughout the nine months of Elizabeth's
pregnancy (Lk 1:20, 62). Zechariah was miraculously healed at John's
circumcision (Lk 1:64). These astounding events surrounding the conception
and birth of John the Baptizer prompted the question: "What will this
child be?" (Lk 1:66)

The answers to this question are:
* John the Baptizer was the "prophet of the Most High" (Lk 1:76).
* He was the new Elijah (Lk 1:17; Mt 11:14).
* "He was the lamp, set aflame and burning bright" (Jn 5:35).
* John was "a voice in the desert, crying out: 'Make straight the way
of the Lord!' " (Jn 1:23)
* He was not "a reed swaying in the wind" or "someone luxuriously
dressed" (Mt 11:7-8).
* He was not worthy to unfasten Jesus' sandals (Acts 13:25).
* John the Baptizer was the greatest person that had ever been born of
woman up to that time (Mt 11:11).

Yet you and I, "the least born into the kingdom of God," are greater than
John (Mt 11:11). John the Baptizer was the greatest, but we are greater
than the greatest because of what Jesus has done in our lives.

Prayer: Jesus, You are the Greatest, and I am in You and You in me (Jn
6:56).

Promise: "My reward is with the Lord, my recompense is with my God." —Is
49:4

Praise: St. John the Baptizer set a great example of calling sinners to
God, especially from public and sexual sins. His humility paved the way
for the mission of Jesus.

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

Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from June
1, 2009 through July 31, 2009
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, January 5, 2009

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 © 2009 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