Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Psalm 66:1-3, 5, 8, 16-17
Matthew 18:15-20
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CLOSED MOUTH
Jesus said, "If your brother should commit some wrong against you, go and point out his fault, but keep it between the two of you." —Matthew 18:15
Christians don’t air their grievances publicly. We don’t wash our dirty laundry for all to see. We’re not trying to hide anything but we respect people’s rights not to be talked about behind their backs and not to be confronted in public. We keep it between the two of us (Mt 18:15). Even spouses and families should not know of our complaint. Shooting off our mouths often does more harm than the original problem.
Christians have shredded one another with razor-blade tongues throughout Church history. We have played right into the hands of the devil. In so doing, we are pawns in the devil’s tactics, used to tear down God’s Kingdom. But if we let the Spirit control our tongues, we can control our whole body (Jas 3:2).
This applies not only to our physical bodies but to Christ’s Body, the Church. Tongues of gossip, backbiting, negativity, and discouragement undermine the Church and make our worship pointless (Jas 1:26). Tongues of praise, prayer, prophecy, and encouragement build up Christ’s body (1 Cor 14:3-4). The tongue is a most important member of the Body, the Church.
Prayer: Father, may I speak in tongues of prayer and praise, not in sinful tongues.
Promise: "Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were undimmed and his vigor unabated." —Dt 34:7
Praise: St. Clare, holding aloft the Eucharist in a monstrance, drove off a threatening army.
(Is your path in life, or vocation, to serve the Lord as a single person? We offer a retreat Aug. 20-22 to support and encourage you on your journey. Call 937-587-5464 or visit our website, presentationministries.com, for more information or to register.)
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant the "Nihil Obstat" ("Permission to Publish") for "One Bread, One Body."
"In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from August 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Vicar General, Chancellor, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 12, 2021"
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