ANSWERED PRAYERS - One Bread, One Body, 03/09/2024

Saturday, March 9, 2024, St. Frances of Rome

Hosea 6:1-6
Psalm 51:3-4, 18-21
Luke 18:9-14

View Readings

ANSWERED PRAYERS
"Two men went up to the temple to pray." —Luke 18:10

The prophet Hosea led the people in prayer to return to the Lord (Hos 14:3). The Lord answered that prayer: “I will heal their defection, I will love them freely; for My wrath is turned away from them. I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily” (Hos 14:5-6). On another occasion, the prophet also led the people in prayer to return to the Lord (Hosea 6:1).  The Lord answered that prayer by smiting His people through the prophets and slaying His people by the words of His mouth (Hos 6:5).

The Lord answered the same prayer in opposite ways because the prayer in Hosea 14 was prayed sincerely in repentance from idol-worship (Hos 14:4, 9), but the prayer in Hosea 6 was prayed by people “untrue” to the Lord (Hos 6:7). “When one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination” (Prv 28:9).

The Pharisee in today’s Gospel reading prayed, fasted, and gave alms (Lk 18:11-12). The tax collector, who had sold his soul to the Romans to make money, also prayed (Lk 18:13-14). The tax collector “went home from the temple justified but the other did not” (Lk 18:14). This was because the Pharisee prayed in a proud, self-centered way but the tax collector repented and humbled himself (Lk 18:13-14).

The Lord will answer our prayers. Will we receive the sternness He shows to the arrogant or the kindness He gives to the humble? (1 Pt 5:5)

Prayer: Lord, teach me to pray (Lk 11:1).

Promise: "Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled while he who humbles himself shall be exalted." —Lk 18:14

Praise: St. Frances of Rome gave glory to God through her love of her husband, children, and the poor and sick people of Rome.

(For a related teaching on Lord, Teach Us to Pray, listen to, download or order our CD 57-3 or DVD 57 on our website.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

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 February 1, 2024, through March 31, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio June 7, 2023"

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/series/obob

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © Presentation Ministries

To add your e-mail address to this list go to https://www.presentationministries.com/subscribe/email

To remove your e-mail address from this list, click here..

ADDICTION TO SELF OR LOVE OF SELF? - One Bread, One Body, 03/08/2024

Friday, March 8, 2024, St. John of God

Hosea 14:2-10
Psalm 81:6-11, 14, 17
Mark 12:28-34

View Readings

ADDICTION TO SELF OR LOVE OF SELF?
"I will heal their defection, I will love them freely." —Hosea 14:5 "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." —Mark 12:31

We human beings are addicted to ourselves because of our fallen nature. We are “self-aholics” and egomaniacs. We are naturally preoccupied with ourselves and automatically live to “do our own thing.”

Sometimes this addiction to self is passed off as a love for ourselves. However, addiction to self is closer to self-hatred than to self-love. For example, a person in an emotionally and/or sexually addictive relationship does not have true love for the other person. That person is using the other person and probably is being used and abused himself or herself.

How can we break free of our addiction to self so that we can love ourselves and thereby love our neighbor as ourselves? Only Jesus’ love can break the spell of self so that we no longer live for ourselves but for Him (2 Cor 5:15). We love God, ourselves, or anyone because the Lord first loved us (1 Jn 4:19). When we receive God’s love, we stop being preoccupied with ourselves and start to love Him with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds, and all our strength (Mk 12:30). As we are baptized into, immersed into the Lord’s love, we forget about ourselves and, paradoxically, begin to love ourselves (see Mt 10:39). Receive His love. Give His love to Him, yourself, and others.

Prayer: Father, give me so much love for You and for myself that I will love my enemies.

Promise: "Return, O Israel, to the Lord, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt." —Hos 14:2

Praise: St. John of God repented of a life of sinfulness, took the name of God as his own, and founded the Brothers Hospitallers, now a worldwide religious order.

(For a related teaching on Divine Love, listen to, download or order our CD 52-3 or DVD 52 on our website.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

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 February 1, 2024, through March 31, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio June 7, 2023"

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/series/obob

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © Presentation Ministries

To add your e-mail address to this list go to https://www.presentationministries.com/subscribe/email

To remove your e-mail address from this list, click here..

“O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL” - One Bread, One Body, 03/07/2024

Thursday, March 7, 2024, Sts. Perpetua & Felicity

Jeremiah 7:23-28
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9
Luke 11:14-23

View Readings

"O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL"
"Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech." —Jeremiah 7:28

Our heavenly Father is the Faithful One. Jesus Christ is “the faithful Witness” (Rv 1:5), “the Faithful and True” (Rv 19:11). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, that is, of faithfulness (see Jn 16:13). The triune God is perfectly faithful (see 1 Thes 5:24). Even “if we are unfaithful He will still remain faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tm 2:13). It is God’s nature to be faithful.

God calls us to be holy, to be like Him. That means that we must be faithful. Have you been faithful to your baptismal promises? This is the fundamental responsibility to which we must be faithful. Have you been faithful to your vocations as married, lay single, priest, religious, parent, child, worker in the world, or church worker? Have you been faithful to the Church, including to your bishops, Pope, pastors, and brothers and sisters in Christ? Have you been faithful in keeping your word and your promises to those people the Lord has given you to love?

If you have been faithful, give God the glory, for it is only by His grace that you have been faithful. If you have not been faithful, repent, go to Confession, receive God’s mercy, and become faithful. On Judgment Day, the Lord wants to say to each of us: “Well done! Good and faithful servant” (see Mt 25:21, 23).

Prayer: Father, this Lent make me faithful in life, till death.

Promise: "But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out devils, then the reign of God is upon you." —Lk 11:20

Praise: Sts. Perpetua and Felicity were both beheaded at the public games in the amphitheater in Carthage. They were among many young women, with children, who were martyred for refusing to renounce their faith in Jesus.

(For a related teaching on Lent and the Renewal of Our Baptismal Promises, view, download or order our leaflet or listen to, download or order our CD 83-1, CD 83-3, CD 84-1 and CD 84-3 or our DVD 83 and DVD 84 on our website.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

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 February 1, 2024, through March 31, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio June 7, 2023"

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/series/obob

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © Presentation Ministries

To add your e-mail address to this list go to https://www.presentationministries.com/subscribe/email

To remove your e-mail address from this list, click here..

FULL OBEDIENCE - One Bread, One Body, 03/06/2024

Wednesday, March 6, 2024,

Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9
Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20
Matthew 5:17-19

View Readings

FULL OBEDIENCE
"Hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you." —Deuteronomy 4:1

If we are to receive the awesome graces of justice, mercy, and freedom, we must obey the Lord:

• “carefully” (Dt 4:6), that is, in detail, for Jesus has come to fulfill even the smallest part of a letter of the law (Mt 5:18).
• zealously. It is our privilege to obey the Lord, Who for love of us obeyed the Father even to death on the cross (Phil 2:8). We must reject a minimalist aberration of Christian life, for “the written law kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor 3:6).
• joyfully. We delight in obeying the law of the Lord (Ps 40:9). We should give obedience to the Lord cheerfully, for the Lord loves cheerful givers (2 Cor 9:7).

Jesus said: “You will live in My love if you keep My commandments, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and live in His love” (Jn 15:10). Through our love, let us carefully, zealously, and joyfully obey our way into freedom.

 

Prayer: Father, send the Holy Spirit to teach me to obey You according to Your standards.

Promise: "Whoever breaks the least significant of these commands and teaches others to do so shall be called least in the kingdom of God." —Mt 5:19

Praise: Josh, a Bible student, studied Greek to learn the New Testament better. He was shocked to learn that the Greek text of John 6 supported the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. He repented of unbelief, joined the Catholic Church, and received the Bread of Life.



-----------------------------------------------------------------

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 February 1, 2024, through March 31, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio June 7, 2023"

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/series/obob

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © Presentation Ministries

To add your e-mail address to this list go to https://www.presentationministries.com/subscribe/email

To remove your e-mail address from this list, click here..

SHOCK PAROLE - One Bread, One Body, 03/05/2024

Tuesday, March 5, 2024,

Daniel 3:25, 34-43
Psalm 25:4-9
Matthew 18:21-35

View Readings

SHOCK PAROLE
"I canceled your entire debt when you pleaded with me." —Matthew 18:32

Unless we forgive from our hearts everyone for everything done against us, we will be handed over to the torturers (Mt 18:34). Forgiving others from our hearts means forgiving them out of the forgiveness and mercy we have received. The master questioned the unforgiving servant: “Should you not have dealt mercifully with your fellow servant, as I dealt with you?” (Mt 18:33) The Lord gives us the grace to forgive others by making us aware of how much we have been forgiven.

Do you realize that you have been forgiven an enormous debt of sin? Your sins were actually part of the reason why Jesus was tortured and crucified (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 598). By your sins, you have rebelled against the all-holy, all-loving God. Your sins are expressions of the grossest ingratitude to the God Who created, nurtures, protects, and continues to sustain  you. Because you have sinned against God Himself, your sins are so serious that it is justice for you to be damned forever.

However, we need not be damned. We are forgiven. Considering our debt to God, His forgiveness is amazing and life-changing. After being forgiven so much, we can no longer look on God, ourselves, others, and life in the same way (see 2 Cor 5:16). We have been shocked by God’s forgiveness into a life of thanksgiving to Him and forgiveness of others. Be shocked by forgiveness into forgiveness.

Prayer: Father, may I be shaken by Your forgiveness of my sins.

Promise: "Let our sacrifice be in Your presence today as we follow You unreservedly; for those who trust in You cannot be put to shame. And now we follow You with our whole heart, we fear You and we pray to You." —Dn 3:40-41

Praise: Father Ron forgave the parishioners who tried to have him expelled from his parish.



-----------------------------------------------------------------

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 February 1, 2024, through March 31, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio June 7, 2023"

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/series/obob

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © Presentation Ministries

To add your e-mail address to this list go to https://www.presentationministries.com/subscribe/email

To remove your e-mail address from this list, click here..

THE FREEDOM OF SLAVERY - One Bread, One Body, 03/04/2024

Monday, March 4, 2024, St. Casimir

2 Kings 5:1-15
Psalm 42:2-3; 43:3-4
Luke 4:24-30

View Readings

THE FREEDOM OF SLAVERY
"So Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." —2 Kings 5:14

Naaman was famous, for he was the commander of the victorious army of Aram (2 Kgs 5:1). Naaman was rich, for he easily gave away “ten silver talents, six thousand gold pieces, and ten festal garments” (2 Kgs 5:5). Naaman was politically important, for he had access to the king of Aram and through him to the king of Israel (2 Kgs 5:4ff). However, Naaman was not healed from leprosy because he was famous, rich, and important. He was healed because he listened to a message from a little slave girl (2 Kgs 5:3) and from other slaves (2 Kgs 5:13). When Naaman humbled himself before his slaves and the prophet Elisha, he was exalted (Mt 23:12) and healed.

After Elisha refused to receive any gifts from Naaman in thanksgiving for his healing, Elisha’s slave, Gehazi, ran after Naaman (2 Kgs 5:20). Gehazi lied to Naaman by saying Elisha had changed his mind and would accept some gifts (2 Kgs 5:22). Elisha knew of Gehazi’s deception and declared: “ ‘The leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.’ And Gehazi left Elisha, a leper white as snow” (2 Kgs 5:27).

When a master humbles himself and becomes like a slave, he is healed. When a slave exalts himself and acts like a master, he is humbled.

“Be slaves of Christ the Lord” (Col 3:24).

Prayer: "I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me" according to Your word, Lord (Lk 1:38).

Promise: "As the hind longs for the running waters, so my soul longs for You, O God." —Ps 42:2

Praise: St. Casimir, born a prince of Poland, was an ascetic, sleeping on the floor and wearing plain clothes. He is now the patron saint of Poland and Lithuania.



-----------------------------------------------------------------

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 February 1, 2024, through March 31, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio June 7, 2023"

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/series/obob

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © Presentation Ministries

To add your e-mail address to this list go to https://www.presentationministries.com/subscribe/email

To remove your e-mail address from this list, click here..

SPRING CLEANING - One Bread, One Body, 03/03/2024

Sunday, March 3, 2024, Third Sunday of Lent

Exodus 20:1-17
1 Corinthians 1:22-25
Psalm 19:8-11
John 2:13-25
View Readings

SPRING CLEANING
"He made a [kind of] whip of cords and drove sheep and oxen alike out of the temple area, and knocked over the money-changers' tables, spilling their coins." —John 2:15

This Lent, Jesus will cleanse the temples of our lives to whatever degree we let Him. Many people want Jesus to just dust them a little or simply brush over them with a damp rag. Very few want Jesus to get out the vacuum cleaner and get down to some serious spring cleaning. Fewer still want Jesus to get out a whip of cords, knock over those things in their lives that are not His will, and drive them out. Why don’t we trust Jesus enough to let Him really clean house?

If you are willing to have the Lord do spring cleaning on you:

1) Go to Confession at least twice this Lent.

2) Ask the Holy Spirit to take you to the cross and convict you of sin (Jn 16:8).

3) By God’s grace, decide to forgive everyone and apologize to those you have delayed in forgiving.

4) Ask the Lord to forgive your unknown faults and to heal your subconscious mind (Ps 19:13).

5) Ask others to lay hands on you and pray for healing of your mind, body, and spirit.

6) Ask the Lord to purify you through a fast of several days.

7) Thank the Lord for cleansing you as if you were a newly baptized baby (see 2 Kgs 5:14).

Prayer: Lord, "thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me" (Ps 51:4).

Promise: "We preach Christ crucified...the Power of God and the Wisdom of God." —1 Cor 1:23-24

Praise: Praise You, risen Lord Jesus! You defeated Satan in the desert and on the cross. Praise You, victorious Lamb of God!

(For a related teaching on The Secret of Confession, view, download or order our leaflet or listen to, download or order our CD 44-3 or DVD 44 on our website.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

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 February 1, 2024, through March 31, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio June 7, 2023"

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/series/obob

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © Presentation Ministries

To add your e-mail address to this list go to https://www.presentationministries.com/subscribe/email

To remove your e-mail address from this list, click here..