ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO! - One Bread, One Body, 09/27/2020

Sunday, September 27, 2020, 26th Sunday Ordinary Time

Ezekiel 18:25-28
Philippians 2:1-11
Psalm 25:4-9
Matthew 21:28-32

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ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO!
"Since he has turned away from all the sins which he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die." ––Ezekiel 18:28

In track competition, sometimes a sprinter is described as “strong out of the blocks but weak to the finish.” We can picture an explosive start followed by running out of gas. Often, the natural world provides relevant metaphors for our spiritual life. “When a virtuous man turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die” (Ez 18:26). This is not the route we want to follow. The Lord teaches us that he who perseveres to the end will be saved (see Mt 24:13).
Since the Lord is abundantly merciful, it is never too late.  Jesus, in today’s Gospel, paints a picture of family life. It is a scene repeated throughout history: One son speaks disrespectfully to his father but does the right thing; the other son pays lip service, while dissenting in his heart. “What do you think of this case?” (Mt 21:28ff) Jesus poses this question to the chief priests and elders, leaders of the people in His day. But we must challenge ourselves in the same way. Have we become disobedient? “When John came preaching a way of holiness, you put no faith in him; but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did believe in him. Yet even when you saw that, you did not repent and believe in him” (Mt 21:32).
Possibly a dose of humility would do us good (see Phil 2:3). Don’t limp to the finish line! Repent and get back on track. Run to Confession.

Prayer: Father, enlighten our minds to know Your truth and guide our footsteps in the ways of righteousness.

Promise: "Good and upright is the Lord; thus He shows sinners the way." ––Ps 25:8

Praise: "...And every tongue proclaim to the glory of God the Father: JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!" (Phil 2:11)

(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 One Bread, One Body covering the period from October 1, 2020 through November 30, 2020. Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio February 25, 2020"

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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FOR GOD IT’S ALWAYS NOW - One Bread, One Body, 09/2=?utf-8?Q?6/2020?=

Saturday, September 26, 2020, Sts. Cosmas & Damian

Ecclesiastes 11:9—12:8
Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17
Luke 9:43-45
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FOR GOD IT'S ALWAYS NOW
"For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night." ––Psalm 90:4

Human beings tend to be creatures of habit. One habitual skill most of us possess is a keen ability to forget things! Bogged down by our daily hustle and bustle, we rarely remember the transitory nature of life. Over time, God’s transcendence may momentarily break into our humdrum lives — but just as quickly these epiphanies generally fade. The Lord, knowing our weakness, is forebearing with us. “Consider that our Lord’s patience is directed toward salvation” (2 Pt 3:15). This is an unmerited blessing. 
The Psalmist, echoing a prayer of Moses, reminds us we “are like the changing grass” (Ps 90:5). Have we listened? The author of Ecclesiastes, recalling the wisdom of Solomon, tells us “the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God Who gave it” (Eccl 12:7). Have we contemplated this truth? St. Peter, calling to mind the Hebrew Scriptures, continues to challenge us: “This point must not be overlooked, dear friends.  In the Lord’s eyes, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years are as a day” (2 Pt 3:8; cf Ps 90:4). Do we recognize our mortality? How many prophets and apostles does the Lord need to send?
Jesus broke into our world and made the great I AM present (see Jn 8:57-58). Focus on the eternal. “God has overlooked the times of ignorance, but now He demands that all people everywhere repent” (Acts 17:30, RNAB). Let us no longer presume God’s patience.  Repent!

Prayer: Father, teach me to conquer procrastination.

Promise: "Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart, the vision of your eyes; Yet understand that as regards all this God will bring you to judgment." ––Eccl 11:9

Praise: Sts. Cosmas & Damian, twin brothers and medical doctors, never accepted payment for their services.

(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 One Bread, One Body covering the period from October 1, 2020 through November 30, 2020. Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio February 25, 2020"

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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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/series/obob

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THE DEATH OF TIME - One Bread, One Body, 09/25/2020

Friday, September 25, 2020,

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
Psalm 144:1-4
Luke 9:18-22
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THE DEATH OF TIME
"He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts." —Ecclesiastes 3:11

The writer of Ecclesiastes continues his bleak description of life by saying: “There is an appointed time for everything” (Eccl 3:1). In his view, everything is ruled by fate. Our dedication, creativity, and hard work mean nothing. They are negated by the tyranny of time. Things will happen when they are fated to happen, and we can’t do a thing about it. So why try? Is there any hope?
Jesus is the Hope of the world. His Resurrection has freed us from the tyranny of time. Baptized into Jesus and living for Him, we, in our daily activity, are making a difference rather than being deceived. Therefore, the most important thing in the world is to know and love our risen Lord and then to decide to live totally for Him and no longer for ourselves (2 Cor 5:14-15). When we decide to give our lives totally to Jesus, we lose our self-deceptions and chains and receive eternal life in the risen Christ.
How merciful the Lord has been to us! How privileged we are to live for Him and to have the exalted mission of telling the world about Him, “the Resurrection and the Life”! (Jn 11:25) Jesus became a Man and entered time so that we can escape from time’s tyranny. Jesus will come a final time, on the last day, and that will be the end of time. Come, Lord Jesus! Maranatha!  (Rv 22:20)

Prayer: Father, day by day may I enter more deeply into eternal life.

Promise: " 'But you — who do you say that I am?' He asked them. Peter said in reply, 'The Messiah of God.' " —Lk 9:20

Praise: A close call with possible death brought Tom back to an active prayer life.

(For a related teaching on Meeting the Risen Christ, order, listen to, or download our CD 4A-1 or DVD 4A on our website.)

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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 One Bread, One Body covering the period from October 1, 2020 through November 30, 2020. Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio February 25, 2020"

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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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/series/obob

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FROM VANITY TO TRINITY - One Bread, One Body, 09/24/2020

Thursday, September 24, 2020,

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11
Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17
Luke 9:7-9
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FROM VANITY TO TRINITY
"Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!" —Ecclesiastes 1:2

Solomon was the most learned, richest, and possibly most powerful man in the world. He was smart enough to realize that his life and all lives had no meaning. Life was hopeless. People today try to avoid facing such a bleak reality by many distractions, addictions, and forms of escapism, but this “mad dash” only shows how desperate we are.
The only way to be saved from the impossible situation of life without hope is to be baptized into Jesus, receive a new nature and a new life (Rm 6:4), become sons or daughters of God, and members of the Church, the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27), by which we share in the communion of saints. If we are living in and for Christ, every detail of our lives is charged with meaning and love. As sons or daughters of God and partakers in the divine nature (2 Pt 1:4), our very beings and all that we do are in Christ and in His body the Church. Thus, our selves and actions are taken up into the divine life, action, and infinite fulfillment of the Holy Trinity. Our lives enter into the mystery of God. Thus, the cry of the human race changes from “Vanity” to “Trinity.”
Therefore, let us pray to live by faith in the Trinity and to resist temptations to sin so that nothing will endanger our living this new life.

Prayer: Father, thank You for changing everything by sending Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I worship You now and forever. May I share this new life with the hopeless.

Promise: "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart." —Ps 90:12

Praise: Ron and Joan repented of making up their own minds concerning birth control. Deciding to follow the Church completely, they are joyously expecting their fourth child.

(For a related teaching on Effects of Sin, order, listen to, or download our CD 81-3 or DVD 81 on our website.)

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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 One Bread, One Body covering the period from October 1, 2020 through November 30, 2020. Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio February 25, 2020"

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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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/series/obob

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WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY EXPERIENCES - One Bread, One Body,09/23/2020

Wednesday, September 23, 2020, St. Pio of Pietrelcina

Proverbs 30:5-9
Psalm 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163
Luke 9:1-6
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WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY EXPERIENCES
"Jesus now called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority to overcome all demons and to cure diseases." —Luke 9:1

“So they set out and went from village to village, spreading the good news everywhere and curing diseases” (Lk 9:6). It seems that at various times in the past, the Lord did many more healings through the Church. Although the Lord is doing many more healings in the present of which we are not aware, it is quite possible that we are not seeing as many healings now because we:
• are ignorant that the Lord wants to heal through us,
• have not tried to heal in Jesus’ name,
• are not following Jesus’ directions and simplifying our lives (Lk 9:3ff), which can be part of the ecology of healing,
• are not proclaiming God’s kingdom (see Lk 9:2), since healing accompanies this proclamation, and
• have not forgiven those who have rejected us (see Lk 9:5), which sabotages healing and the whole Christian life.
Although these comments about reasons for possibly fewer healings today are valid, many times we must realize that we don’t know why something seems to be different than Biblical standards. At that point, we should not deny or water down in any way the truth of divine revelation in the Scriptures. The Scriptures do not need to be altered to fit our limited human experience. Rather, we should humbly realize that we need to grow in faith and love so as to let the Lord work through us much more freely.
“Every word of God is tested” (Prv 30:5) and true (Jn 17:17). By God’s grace, let us always try to measure up to the truth.

 

Prayer: Father, thank You for transcending our understanding.

Promise: "The law of Your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces." —Ps 119:72

Praise: St. Pio passed from this life in 1968 — a modern saint. In 2002 at St. Pio's canonization, Pope St. John Paul II commented, "Padre Pio was a generous dispenser of divine mercy."



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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 One Bread, One Body covering the period from October 1, 2020 through November 30, 2020. Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio February 25, 2020"

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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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/series/obob

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POOR ME - One Bread, One Body, 09/22/2020

Tuesday, September 22, 2020,

Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13
Psalm 119:1, 27, 30, 34-35, 44
Luke 8:19-21
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POOR ME
"He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will himself also call and not be heard." —Proverbs 21:13

Whatever we do for “the least of the brethren,” we do for Jesus (see Mt 25:40). When we don’t give to “the least of the brethren,” we also deprive ourselves of receiving. We’ll have possessions which we’ve withheld from the poor, but we won’t have power, peace, joy, or fulfillment.
If we don’t answer the prayers of the poor, the Lord doesn’t answer our prayer (see Prv 21:13). “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members share its joy” (1 Cor 12:26). We’re either happy all together or we’re all unhappy. For example, if one part of your physical body is hurting, your whole body is suffering. Even if you try to ignore that part of your body, it still hurts, and so do you. We’re in this together, whether we like it or not.
The first world is depressed because the third world is oppressed. When we love the poor, we love a part of our own body. The Lord promises: “Happy is he who has regard for the lowly and the poor; in the day of misfortune the Lord will deliver him. The Lord will keep and preserve him; He will make him happy on the earth, and not give him over to the will of his enemies. The Lord will help him on his sickbed, He will take away all his ailment when he is ill” (Ps 41:2-4).

Prayer: Father, may I lavishly give to the poor (Ps 112:9).

Promise: Jesus "told them in reply, 'My mother and My brothers are those who hear the word of God and act upon it.' " —Lk 8:21

Praise: Peter and his family work together serving at a monthly soup kitchen.

(For a related teaching on Beatitudes, order, listen to, or download our CD 44-3 or DVD 44 on our website.)

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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 One Bread, One Body covering the period from October 1, 2020 through November 30, 2020. Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio February 25, 2020"

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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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/series/obob

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WHO, ME? - One Bread, One Body, 09/21/2020

Monday, September 21, 2020, St. Matthew

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13
Psalm 19:2-5
Matthew 9:9-13
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WHO, ME?
Matthew "got up and followed [Jesus]." —Matthew 9:9

Jesus broke into St. Matthew’s life. Matthew, a tax collector, was working at a job that, at the time, was only done by turning his back on his Jewish faith and his Jewish people. Holy and faithful Jews considered a fellow Jew who collected taxes from his own people for the occupying Roman government to be the worst of sinners, in the same category as prostitutes (see Mt 21:31-32).
Jesus entered Matthew’s customs post, looked at Matthew, and called him, saying “Follow Me.” Matthew “got up and followed Him” (Mt 9:9). The Greek word for “got up” is the same word used for “rising from the dead.” Matthew literally rose from the death of sin to follow Jesus to new life.
Jesus calls each of us to “follow Him,” just as He called Matthew. If we feel unworthy to answer His call, Jesus reminds us, “I have come to call sinners” (see Mt 9:13).
Matthew joyfully welcomed Jesus into his home, like Zacchaeus would later do. Let us do the same. 

Prayer: Father, give me the grace to "rise up" from any apathy, fear, sin, and distractions and follow Jesus wherever He calls me.

Promise: "There is but one body and one Spirit, just as there is but one hope given all of you by your call." —Eph 4:4

Praise: St. Matthew had no hesitation in following Jesus and offering Him hospitality (Mt 9:9-10). St. Matthew, pray for us!

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.) (Celebrate the feast of St. Matthew by reading his gospel. Order, view or download our booklet Simple Reading Guide to Matthew and Mark on our website.)

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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 One Bread, One Body covering the period from October 1, 2020 through November 30, 2020. Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio February 25, 2020"

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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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/series/obob

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