THE DEATH OF THE PARTY - One Bread, One Body, 3/7/2015

Saturday, March 7, 2015, Sts. Perpetua & Felicity

Micah 7:14-15, 18-20, Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12, Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/030715.cfm

THE DEATH OF THE PARTY

"For years now I have slaved for you. I never disobeyed one of your orders, yet you never gave me so much as a kid goat." -Luke 15:29

Have you been praying for years but haven't received as much as a kid goat? Do you feel like a slave since for you Mass is primarily a Sunday obligation? Do you find yourself judging other Christians? Are you turned off by those charismatics who are always praising the Lord?
If your answer to some of these questions is "Yes," then you may be the older brother in the parable usually called "The Parable of the Prodigal Son." Many Christians, like the older brother, compare themselves with other Christians. We are tempted to fall into religious sibling rivalry and jealousy. Unforgiveness breeds in this atmosphere, and where unforgiveness is, there can be no blessing, no joy, and no peace (Mt 5:24; Sir 28:3-4).
Unforgiveness breeds a burdensome, joyless, Sunday-obligation aberration of Christianity. Of course, it's not bad to do things out of a sense of duty, but Christianity is much more. Christianity is an exciting, painful, fulfilling way of living based on a deep, total relationship with the forgiving Father, the Bridegroom Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Our Father speaks to us at this moment: "You are with Me always, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice!" (Lk 15:31-32)


Prayer: Father, show me that unforgiveness is the cause of a sad, boring life.

Promise: "You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins." -Mi 7:19

Praise: St. Felicity refused to deny Jesus to preserve her life, even for the safety of her newborn infant.

(For a related teaching, order our tape "Developing a Deep, Personal Relationship with Jesus" on audio AV 52-1 or video V-52.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

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, 2015 through March 31, 2015
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 25, 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 © 2015 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