Acts 4:13-21, Psalm 118:1, 14-21, Mark 16:9-15
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CULTURAL DISOBEDIENCE
"Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight for us to obey
you rather than God." —Acts 4:19
As we celebrate the risen life of Jesus, the world, so enamored of death,
will eventually oppose us. The world will not just be upset about our
verbal proclamation of Jesus' resurrection. It will especially convulse
when we practice what we preach by changing our lifestyle so as to more
powerfully proclaim the resurrection. At this point, the world will
pressure us to obey it rather than God. Because Jesus is risen, we may
dramatically change our finances so as to free up more money and time to
proclaim the resurrection. The world will then tell us to be like
"everybody else" by putting our money in the bank, making investments, and
being a good "consumer." It will laugh at us when we tithe, give alms, and
simplify our lives. If we obey the world, the resurrection message will be
stifled. If we obey God, we're gaining momentum in witnessing for the
risen Christ.
After we by faith meet the risen King, we may choose to be celibate for
the kingdom (see Mt 19:12) or to have a large family. In either case, the
world will ridicule such practical acts of faith. The world can tolerate
lip-service to Jesus' resurrection, but when we act as if the resurrection
demanded a new life, then we threaten the world. If the world doesn't stop
us, we may break other unwritten rules in our society by sharing our faith
in Jesus on our job and rejecting the world's entertainment. Therefore,
the world will try to force us to comply. We'll have to obey someone. Will
it be God or the pressures of the world?
Prayer: Father, may I continue to proclaim Your Son's resurrection by
disobeying any unwritten rules of this society that are not Your will.
Promise: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all
creation." —Mk 16:15
Praise: Praise the risen Jesus, Whose obedience gave us life with God.
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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 April
1, 2010 through May 31, 2010
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, October 9, 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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