Genesis 18:20-32
Colossians 2:12-14
Psalm 138:1-3, 6-8
Luke 11:1-13
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GOD CAME DOWN
"I must go down and see..." —Genesis 18:21
God said that He would come down from heaven to earth to find out if there was sin on the earth. He came down to Sodom and Gomorrah and He did find sin — lots of it. These two sinful cities were destroyed (Gn 19:24ff). God heard the “outcry against” sin (Gn 18:20), and He answered with justice.
Then God came down again in response to many outcries. This time He came down in mercy as a helpless Infant. He came down from heaven to earth, and He didn’t even crush a bruised reed (Mt 12:20). The Son of God came not as a ruler who turns sinful nations into fiery ruins, but as a meek Infant.
Jesus taught us to seek God as a loving Father when we cry out. In the New Covenant, Jesus teaches us to pray, seek, ask, and knock for conversions and mercy. Jesus taught us that mercy is what God desires (Mt 9:13), and His “mercy triumphs over judgment” (Jas 2:13). God our Father knows what we need more than the most loving earthly father (Mt 6:32).
If the teaching of Jesus to trust our heavenly Father doesn’t impel us to depend totally upon God, then perhaps His example will be the impetus we need. Jesus came to this earth as a helpless infant, totally dependent upon His earthly parents, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph. May we likewise be like little children, totally dependent upon our loving Father. Jesus assures us: “Unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of God” (Mt 18:3).
Prayer: "Father…" (Lk 11:2).
Promise: "Even when you were dead in sin and your flesh was uncircumcised, God gave you new life in company with Christ. He pardoned all our sins." —Col 2:13
Praise: Risen Jesus, You are the merciful Lamb of God and the powerful Lion of Judah. All glory and honor is Yours. Alleluia!
(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 June 1, 2025, through July 31, 2025. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio September 25, 2024"
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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