of our Discipleship Center building. The novena ends June 22. Please
e-mail any insights or prophetic words you feel the Lord has given you.
Prayer for the Building Project
Abba Father, source of all life, you brought each of us into being and
have called us to be a community of faith.
Lord Jesus, Son of the living God, architect and builder of all things,
You have given us the task of proclaiming your Gospel, of being a sign of
your love, and building a place to call home.
Following the wisdom of your Spirit, we have set about to provide
buildings where our faith can be shared from generation to generation, and
your love may be celebrated in your community of faith which we construct
under your guidance and on the chief Cornerstone, Jesus the Christ.
Lord Jesus, we seek your provision for the funds, workers, and resources
necessary to complete the task you have given us. Fortify our faith
stronger than our buildings. Watch over the laborers and keep them safe.
May our work on this project serve to strengthen our church community and
contribute to the building of the Kingdom of Our Lord Jesus Christ, here
on earth and in eternity. Amen.
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Monday, June 8, 2009
2 Corinthians 1:1-7, Psalm 34:2-9, Matthew 5:1-12
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/060809.shtml
SHOCK WAVES
"How blest are..." —Matthew 5:3
When Jesus gathered His disciples around Him and began to teach them the
Beatitudes, what were His disciples expecting? Jesus had called these men
to join His kingdom (see Mt 4:22ff). He took them on tour with Him where
they saw His amazing power to heal the masses and bring deliverance from
the evil one (see Mt 4:23-24). The disciples saw Jesus' popularity and
ability to draw great crowds (see Mt 4:25). When Jesus took them up the
mountainside, they possibly anticipated becoming VIPs in His kingdom. They
may have expected power, prestige, and money. Even after Jesus repeatedly
corrected the disciples' false idea of His kingdom, they still thought His
kingdom was of this world, and discussed who would be the greatest (see Mt
18:1).
Therefore, when Jesus was talking about eight ways to be happy, that is,
the Beatitudes, the disciples may have expected a kind of motivational
talk worthy of Dale Carnegie. However, Jesus absolutely shocked the
disciples. Happiness was not riches, but poverty; not feeling good, but
sorrowing for sin; not prestige, but lowliness; not desiring pleasures,
but holiness; not winning, but showing mercy; not doing your own thing,
but being single-hearted in doing God's thing; not manipulating others,
but making peace; and not popularity, but persecution (Mt 5:3-10).
The disciples could not have been more shocked by the Beatitudes, which
continue to send shock waves throughout human history to this very day.
Prayer: Father, empower me to shock the world by living the Beatitudes.
Promise: "As we have shared much in the suffering of Christ, so through
Christ do we share abundantly in His consolation." —2 Cor 1:5
Praise: Members of a local youth group inspire others with their true
desire for holiness.
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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 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.
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