Wisdom 9:13-18
Philemon 9-10, 12-17
Psalm 90:3-6, 12-17
Luke 14:25-33
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TEAM JESUS
"None of you can be My disciple if he does not renounce all his possessions." —Luke 14:33
Thousands of football players across the country are doing whatever the coach wants in order to make the team. They’ll drop everything and move across country, change their diet, learn challenging positions, run sprints in full uniform in burning heat, and get clobbered by powerful men. They abandon their bodies to pain and injury for the chance to make the team. “Athletes deny themselves all sorts of things” (1 Cor 9:25).
Similarly, soldiers renounce civilian life “in order to please [their] commanding officer” (2 Tm 2:4). They sleep in foxholes, exposed to bombs and bullets. They go without food and water, get cold and wet, endure loneliness, misunderstanding, and even rejection. At times, they are portrayed as brutal villains. Yet their focus is to please their captain and serve their country.
What about those who bear the name of Christian? I’ve heard Christians get upset with God because their washing machine broke down and their clothes were dirty! Dirty uniforms and renouncing possessions are part of daily life for football players and soldiers. If we Christians understood renouncing as well as athletes and soldiers, we would be pleading with God for every opportunity to get off the spiritual bench and onto the field of battle, as did young David (see 1 Sm 17:32ff).
Do you want to be a disciple of Jesus? Do you want to make His team? Are you focused on pleasing Jesus, your Captain? Then get serious and renounce your possessions (Lk 14:33).
Prayer: Jesus, take me to a new level of discipleship. I surrender all for the privilege of serving You.
Promise: "Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple." —Lk 14:27
Praise: Praise Jesus, Who was obedient unto death and was raised up on the third day (see Acts 10:40).
(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 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, 2022 through September 30, 2022. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 31, 2022"
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.
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