REIGN-Y DAYS - One Bread, One Body, 2/27/2010

For Lent read our brochure entitled, "The Secret of Confession"

http://www.presentationministries.com/brochures/SecretConfession.asp
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Saturday, February 27, 2010

Deuteronomy 26:16-19, Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8, Matthew 5:43-48
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/022710.shtml

REIGN-Y DAYS

"He rains on the just and the unjust." —Matthew 5:45

Once a teenager deliberately disobeyed her mother's midnight curfew and
tiptoed into her house several hours later. Expecting a severe conflict,
she entered her bedroom to find her bed neatly made, the sheets and
blankets arranged the way she liked, and her favorite candy bar on her
pillow. Stunned by this expression of unexpected love, she couldn't sleep.
Weeping uncontrollably, all she could do was think of how much God and her
mother loved her. That night, she surrendered her heart to Jesus and asked
Him to be Lord of her life.

This mother was imitating God, Who pours down gentle, life-sustaining
rains on those who don't deserve His love (Mt 5:45). God sustains and
blesses those who hate Him. This is like a continuous flow of water over a
hard rock. The water relentlessly probes the rock for a crack. It may take
many years, but eventually the water will split the rock and polish it
smooth.

"Love never fails" (1 Cor 13:8). "There is no limit to love's forbearance,
to its trust, its hope, its power to endure" (1 Cor 13:7). When we love
our enemies perfectly, as our Father loves them (Mt 5:44-45), God's love
will reach their hearts (Rm 12:20), even if it seems like there is no sign
of change.

How can we love those who hate us? Well, God's rain also falls on us, "the
just" (Mt 5:45). "The love of God has been poured out in our hearts
through the Holy Spirit" (Rm 5:5). "Receive the Holy Spirit" (Jn 20:22).
"Love your enemies" (Mt 5:44). "Prove that you are" children of God (Mt
5:45).

Prayer: Father, make me perfect in love (Mt 5:48).

Promise: "Today the Lord is making this agreement with you: you are to be
a people peculiarly His own." —Dt 26:18

Praise: Every time Hannah thought of the person who unjustly attacked her,
she prayed a Hail Mary for her.

(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
February 1, 2010 through March 31, 2010
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, August 11, 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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