A MERCILESS LIFESTYLE - One Bread, One Body, 10/7/2009

Did you know Presentation Ministries has a Bible College called Our Lady
of Guadalupe Bible College (GBC)? Home study is available. For more
information visit:

http://www.presentationministries.com/gbc/InfoStart.asp

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

Wednesday, October 7, 2009, Our Lady of the Rosary

Jonah 4:1-11, Psalm 86:3-6, 9-10, Luke 11:1-4
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/100709.shtml

A MERCILESS LIFESTYLE

"And now, Lord, please take my life from me; for it is better for me to
die than to live." —Jonah 4:3

Jonah prayed to die because he was upset that the Ninevites repented and
God spared them. He also prayed to die because a worm ruined his shade
tree and he became hot (Jon 4:7-8). Jonah was both merciless and overly
concerned about his personal comfort.

These may seem to be two unrelated matters but God's word says there is a
connection between our treasures and our hearts (Lk 12:34). Our
priorities, pleasures, and lifestyle affect whether our hearts are open or
closed, warm or cold. If we love the things of the world, the Father's
love has no place in us (1 Jn 2:15). If we are not receiving God's love,
we cannot give love to others. We then become hardened and merciless. As
we complicate our lifestyle and become more preoccupied with money,
pleasure, and comfort, we become more vengeful and merciless. By our
selfish lifestyle, we are mass-producing people "without conscience,
without loyalty, without affection, without pity" (Rm 1:31).

We must change our lifestyle before we create an even more monstrous,
merciless society which aborts its babies, kills its old people, executes
its criminals, neglects its poor, and sacrifices its citizens to the god
of pleasure and profit.

Prayer: Father, change my heart by changing my lifestyle. Crucify me to
the world (Gal 6:14).

Promise: "Forgive us our sins for we too forgive all who do us wrong." —Lk
11:4

Praise: James' life changed when he started praying a daily rosary.

(For a related teaching, order our leaflet "Seek First The Kingdom".)

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

Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from
October 1, 2009 through November 30, 2009
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, June 3, 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