DESIGNER-GOD - One Bread, One Body, 12/14/2011

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Wednesday, December 14, 2011, St. John of the Cross

Isaiah 45:6-8, 18, 21-25, Psalm 85:9-14, Luke 7:18-23
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121411.cfm

DESIGNER-GOD

"...God, the Designer and Maker of the earth Who established it, not creating it to be a waste, but designing it to be lived in." -Isaiah 45:18

Even as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, we are living in a culture of death, which discourages birth. It sees people not as gifts from God but as the cause of "over-population." It views children not as joys but as burdens and attacks on our freedom. Our culture of death makes contraception and abortion its virtues, and conception and giving birth its sins. These judgments by those espousing the culture of death are based on preconceived ideas about independence, lifestyle, individualism, and privacy. Those promoting the culture of death are trying to design the world according to these unfounded, purely subjective notions.
However, "the Lord, the Creator of the heavens, Who is God, the Designer and Maker of the earth Who established it," disagrees with the death-culture's design for the earth (Is 45:18). He has not designed "it to be a waste" but designed "it to be lived in" (Is 45:18). He is "the Lord, and there is no other" (Is 45:18). He alone created and redeemed the earth. There is no other authority in charge of the earth. Therefore, obey the Lord's command: "Turn to Me and be safe, all you ends of the earth, for I am God; there is no other!" (Is 45:22)
How can a contraceptive, abortifacient culture rejoice in a birth? Repent! Choose life! (Dt 30:19)

Prayer: Father, beginning this Christmas season may we see the culture of death at least beginning to be displaced by a civilization of love and life.

Promise: "Blest is that man who finds no stumbling block in Me." -Lk 7:23

Praise: St. John came to understand that the way of the cross was God's eternal design. To embrace Jesus' cross, he purposely sat in a dark, cramped cell so that he could be alone with his 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 December 1, 2011 through January 31, 2012
?Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 27, 2011

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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