Attend our upcoming Discipleship Retreat, "Christian Community and the Holy Spirit", Feb 21 - 22. For more information or to register visit http://www.presentationministries.com/general/event.asp?eventID=361
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, January 16, 2020
1 Samuel 4:1-11, Psalm 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25, Mark 1:40-45
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011620.cfm
THE WHY-WAIT
"After a fierce struggle Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who slew about four thousand men on the battlefield. When the troops retired to the camp, the elders of Israel said, 'Why has the Lord permitted us to be defeated today by the Philistines' " -1 Samuel 4:2-3
When we suffer tragedy, it is good to ask God: "Why?" Then we must wait on ourselves to receive the Lord's revelation. The defeated Israelites asked the right question but didn't wait. They assumed that they wouldn't get an answer, so they proceeded to fight another battle in which "Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers" (1 Sm 4:10). If we don't stop and wait to hear God, we often make tragedies much worse. So don't just do something, sit there. "For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: by waiting and by calm you shall be saved, in quiet and in trust your strength lies. But this you did not wish" (Is 30:15).
When things are bad, we must not be stampeded into activity and decision-making. Even if we aren't good at hearing God, we have no acceptable alternative. If we act without hearing God, we are not under Jesus' lordship. Rather, we are doing our own thing. This is the very cause of our problems and repeats the pattern which has already brought about our downfall. We can't save ourselves. We must hear the Lord. He is faithful; He will break through our deafness. Stop and wait.
Prayer: Father, You are my only Hope and the only Hope I need.
Promise: "Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out His hand, touched him, and said, 'I do will it. Be cured.' The leprosy left him then and there, and he was cured." -Mk 1:41-42
Praise: Nick, a young adult, gave up a much-desired camping vacation in order to minister to a group of Catholic youth.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant the "Nihil Obstat" ("Permission to Publish") for "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from December 1, 2019 through January 31, 2020
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 2, 2019
The "Nihil Obstat" ("Permission to Publish") 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 the "Nihil Obstat" 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 © 2020 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