Thursday, August 9, 2018, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
Jeremiah 31:31-34, Psalm 51:12-15, 18-19, Matthew 16:13-23
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/080918.cfm
ONE HEART AND ONE VOICE
"You are not judging by God's standards but by man's." -Matthew 16:23
Peter's mouth spoke the words of heaven, revealed directly from the Father above (Mt 16:16-17). Shortly thereafter, Peter's mouth spoke the words of the kingdom of darkness (Mt 16:22-23). "Blessing and curse come out of the same mouth. This ought not to be" (Jas 3:10). "Does a spring gush forth fresh water and foul from the same outlet?" (Jas 3:11)
We have a civil war raging in our hearts (Jas 4:1ff), and so we are prone to shift between behavior obedient to the Lord and behavior obedient to the world, the flesh, and the devil (1 Jn 2:16).
So we pray: "A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me" (Ps 51:12). We must beg for a clean heart, one which has God's law written upon it (Jer 31:33) as well as the law of the Spirit (2 Cor 3:3). We must beg Jesus to purify our hearts, so that when we speak from the abundance of our hearts (Lk 6:45), we will speak the words of the Lord, that is, speak prophetically. We beg the Lord God to make us single-hearted for Him (Mt 5:8), so that Jesus might be our Treasure (Mt 13:44), and that where our treasure lies, there our hearts will be (Mt 6:21). Thus we will speak from the abundance of our hearts (Lk 6:45), that is, we will speak of the Lord and not of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Prayer: Father, probe my mind and test my heart (Jer 17:10).
Promise: "I will place My law within them, and write it upon their hearts." -Jer 31:33
Praise: St. Teresa Benedicta converted from Judaism to the Catholic Church. She always kept her Jewish people dear to her heart, offering her life to God as a sacrifice for their spiritual welfare.
(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 August 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 15, 2017
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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