YOU'RE FIRED - One Bread, One Body, 10/22/2009

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Thursday, October 22, 2009

Romans 6:19-23, Psalm 1:1-4, 6, Luke 12:49-53
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/102209.shtml

YOU'RE FIRED

"I have come to light a fire on the earth." —Luke 12:49

I recently read a story about forest fires in the Western United States.
The cones of lodgepole pine trees won't drop their seeds unless an intense
fire burns beneath them. In a fire, accumulated litter on the forest floor
is burned off. Freed of the smothering litter and freed for new growth,
the cycle of new life can begin.

We are like that. We accumulate junk in our lives which smothers our
desire for the Lord. Jesus needs to burn away and divide us (Lk 12:51)
from possessions, complacency, confusion, strife, unforgiveness, the
desire for money, and all our sins, which suffocate our spirit. Then the
cycle of new, abundant life can begin in us (Jn 10:10). "Our God is a
consuming Fire" (Heb 12:29). "He will sit refining and purifying" us (Mal
3:3) until our faith shines brighter than pure gold (1 Pt 1:7). When the
Refiner's fire is hot enough, the dross in our lives, that is, our sins,
burns away.

Doctors and nurses put a needle into a hot flame to sterilize it. This
burns away germs which could bring infection and death. We cook food and
boil water over flame to kill organisms which would infect us. In the same
way, Doctor Jesus cannot tolerate the infection of sin which enslaves us
(Rm 6:16) and leads us to death (Rm 6:23). The fire of His love will not
allow Him to stand idly by while we poison ourselves with sin and
"litter." He has to ignite the blaze (Lk 12:49) and set our life on fire.

"Stir into flame the gift" of the Holy Spirit (2 Tm 1:6). Catch fire for
Jesus.

Prayer: Jesus, may I burn for You now rather than forever in hell.

Promise: "Now that you are freed from sin and have become slaves of God,
your benefit is sanctification as you tend toward eternal life." —Rm 6:22

Praise: Andrew tells even strangers how Jesus saved him from drug
addiction.

(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
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.

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