Tuesday, September 16, 2014, Pope St. Cornelius, St. Cyprian
1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31, Psalm 100:1-5, Luke 7:11-17
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/091614.cfm
A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
Jesus "stepped forward and touched the litter." -Luke 7:14
According to the law of Moses, Jesus became unclean by touching the dead man (Nm 19:11). Jesus, the Life (Jn 11:25; 14:6), gave to the young man new and abundant life (Jn 10:10). In so doing, Jesus took upon Himself the uncleanness of death (Mt 8:17). However, death has no power over Jesus (Rm 6:9).
Jesus raised the young man by His spoken word. Once Jesus spoke the words, "Young man, I bid you get up," the "dead man sat up" (Lk 7:14, 15). His word is life (Jn 6:63). When Jesus speaks the word, healing and life ensue (Lk 7:7, 10, 14-15).
By sheer mercy, Jesus defeated a situation dominated by death. No one asked Him to intervene, and no faith seemed to be involved. Jesus is Mercy incarnate. Mercy is His very nature, and so Jesus had mercy on the bereaved mother and raised her son from death to life. This foreshadowed His saving death on the cross. No one asked God to send His Son to die for us, and no one even imagined such a thing. He simply looked upon us with mercy and brought life and light into our gloomy existence (Is 9:1).
Once we were dead because of our sins (Eph 2:1). However, "God is rich in mercy; because of His great love for us He brought us to life with Christ when we were dead in sin" (Eph 2:4-5). Alleluia!
Prayer: Jesus, "You have the words of eternal life" (Jn 6:68). Touch this culture of death and make it stop (Lk 7:14). Speak Your words of life to us and usher in a new civilization of life.
Promise: "God has visited His people." -Lk 7:16
Praise: St. Cyprian was told in a vision that he would be beheaded in a year, so he listened to the Holy Spirit and wrote an exhortation to those who would be called to suffer martyrdom.
(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.) (For a related teaching, order our tape "Forgiveness" on audio AV 54-1 or video V-54.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from August 1, 2014 through September 30, 2014
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 19, 2014
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 © 2014 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
No comments:
Post a Comment