LIVING AND DYING BY FAITH - One Bread, One Body, 07/04/2025

Friday, July 4, 2025,

Genesis 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67
Psalm 106:1-5
Matthew 9:9-13

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LIVING AND DYING BY FAITH
"She died." —Genesis 23:2

Sarah died at the age of one hundred and twenty-seven (Gn 23:1). Abraham, her husband, died forty-eight years later at the age of one hundred and seventy-five (Gn 25:7). God had promised Abraham that he would be the father of nations and receive the promised land. When Abraham died, he owned a few feet of the promised land which he purchased for Sarah’s burial plot (see Gn 23:19). At his death, Abraham had only two grandchildren from Isaac, the only son from his marriage with Sarah. At Abraham’s death, God’s promises to Him seemed quite unfulfilled. In the eyes of men, Abraham’s life seemed incomplete.

Jesus died at about the age of thirty-three. He revealed that He was the Savior of the world, the Lord of lords, and God Himself (Jn 20:28). Hardly anyone believed Him. Even His disciples abandoned Him to be executed on a cross. Jesus seemed to have failed in His mission.

The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed (Mt 13:31). It begins very small. It will eventually become a large bush, although that may occur years after your death. You may see only the tiniest fulfillment of God’s promises and die an apparent failure. You will have to live by faith (2 Cor 5:7) and die by faith (Heb 11:21-22). At your death, you may not see the fruit of your life. Your only assurance may be that you loved the Lord. Love, repent, live, die, and believe.

Prayer: Father, may I live by faith and die in Love.

Promise: Jesus "said to him, 'Follow Me.' Matthew got up and followed Him." —Mt 9:9

Praise: Sue prayed over forty years for her children to return to the practice of their Catholic faith. She believed each day that God had heard her prayers and rejoiced to see God answer her prayers in full.

(July 22-25 begins a powerful retreat on How to Teach the Bible in the Power of the Holy Spirit. Is the Lord calling you to attend? Call 513-373-2397 or see our website for details.)

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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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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 LOVE THAT KNOWS NO BOUNDS - One Bread, One Body, 07/03/2025

Thursday, July 3, 2025, St. Thomas

Ephesians 2:19-22
Psalm 117:1-2
John 20:24-29

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THE LOVE THAT KNOWS NO BOUNDS
"His answer was, 'I will never believe it without probing the nailprints in His hands, without putting my finger in the nailmarks and my hand into His side.' " —John 20:25

It was unreasonable for St. Thomas to make his examination of Jesus’ wounds a prerequisite for believing in Jesus’ Resurrection. No one, including Thomas, has the right to examine the wounds of Jesus or of anyone. Nevertheless, Jesus fulfilled Thomas’ unreasonable request. Jesus goes to extremes to love and save us. His Incarnation, His crucifixion and death, the gift of His Body and Blood, His repeated forgiveness and mercy, and His humility in acceding to many of our unreasonable demands are amazing indications that His love for us knows no bounds.

Yet some people are so blinded that they don’t recognize the Lord’s extreme love. Some are so callous that they presumptuously think they can delay their conversion to the Lord because He’ll keep giving them chances to repent. However, others respond to the Lord’s radical love for them as Thomas eventually responded. They cry out to Jesus with their whole being: “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:28)

The Lord has created us to love us. He has been pursuing us for years. He is madly in love with us. Will you love Him? Love Him with all your heart (Mt 22:37). Accept Jesus as your Lord and God.

Prayer: God, I love You, Who are Love (1 Jn 4:8, 16). I will live and die for You.

Promise: "You are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God." —Eph 2:19

Praise: "Thomas said in response, 'My Lord and my God!' " (Jn 20:28)

(For a related teaching on Divine Love listen to, download or order our AV 52-3 or V 52 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 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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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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OUT OF SYNC WITH GOD - One Bread, One Body, 07/02/2025

Wednesday, July 2, 2025,

Genesis 21:5, 8-20
Psalm 34:7-8, 10-13
Matthew 8:28-34

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OUT OF SYNC WITH GOD
"Drive out that slave and her son!" —Genesis 21:10

God promised Abraham a son so that he would be the father of nations (Gn 15:4ff). However, Abraham and Sarah were getting very old, and God’s promise seemingly wasn’t coming to pass. So Sarah took control and gave Abraham her maid Hagar as a surrogate mother. “Hagar bore him Ishmael” (Gn 16:16). Years later, God’s perfect timing arrived, and Sarah conceived and bore Isaac. God “did for her as He had promised” (Gn 21:1). Yet a great deal of human suffering and injustice occurred in Abraham’s family because Sarah and Abraham jumped ahead of God and took control away from Him. In His mercy, God turned some of the family problems to the good (Rm 8:28), but many future problems have arisen because of this rift between Sarah and Hagar. We pray that one glorious day Abraham’s modern-day descendants will be fully reconciled.

The Israelites didn’t learn the lesson. God miraculously delivered them from slavery in Egypt. Then He planned for them to march into the promised land and seize it (Nm 13:2ff). However, the Israelites feared the inhabitants of the promised land more than they feared the God Who led them through the Red Sea. They lagged behind God, and wouldn’t enter the land. As a consequence of this rebellious fear, they wandered forty years in the desert (Nm 14:32-34). Hoping to avoid this fate, some switched from lagging behind God to jumping ahead of Him. They invaded the promised land and were routed (Nm 14:39-45).

God’s timing is perfect; we are imperfect. Be in sync with God by attentively listening to Him each day. Let His will be done in your life, and He will direct you perfectly (Is 30:21).

 

Prayer: Father, I know how easily I can disrupt Your plans, but I trust even more that You will lead me in straight paths (Ps 23:3).

Promise: "Nought is lacking to those who fear Him." —Ps 34:10

Praise: Ted volunteered to transport bulk shipments of food in his car for a ministry that feeds the hungry (see Mt 25:35).

(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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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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TOUR GUIDES - One Bread, One Body, 07/01/2025

Tuesday, July 1, 2025, St. Junipero Serra

Genesis 19:15-29
Psalm 26:2-3, 9-12
Matthew 8:23-27

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TOUR GUIDES
Jesus "got into the boat and His disciples followed Him." —Matthew 8:23

After the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus decided to take the disciples on a tour with Him. It was a healing, miracle, and deliverance tour. The disciples saw a leper cleansed, the centurion’s servant healed of paralysis, Peter’s mother-in-law healed of a fever, a storm stopped, two men delivered from demons, a paralytic cured, the daughter of Jairus raised from the dead, a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years cured, two blind men given sight, and a mute delivered of a demon and enabled to speak (Mt 8:1—9:34). What a tour!

The disciples were sightseers on this tour. At its conclusion, Jesus asked His disciples to pray for tour guides, that is, workers for the harvest (Mt 9:38). They became the answer to their own prayers and were given the authority to do what they had just seen Jesus do (Jn 14:12).

Jesus gave His apostles “authority to expel unclean spirits and to cure sickness and disease of every kind” (Mt 10:1). Additionally, the Holy Spirit has given many Christians gifts to do great works for the common good (Rm 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:4-11).Yet many Christians don’t believe Him. We should first go on tour with Jesus and see His mighty works. Then we will believe His promises. Obey Him. Come, see, conquer.

Prayer: Jesus, open my eyes to Your almighty power and love.

Promise: "You have already thought enough of Your servant to do me the great kindness of intervening to save my life." —Gn 19:19

Praise: St. Junipero Serra founded twenty-one missions which became the foundations of California's first cities.

(For a related teaching on Mission Impossible view, download or order our leaflet 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 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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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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“MERCY IS NOT STRAINED” - One Bread, One Body, 06/30/2025

Monday, June 30, 2025, First Martyrs of the Church of Rome

Genesis 18:16-33
Psalm 103:1-4, 8-11
Matthew 8:18-22

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"MERCY IS NOT STRAINED"
"Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness." —Psalm 103:8

Abraham asked the Lord to spare the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah if there were ten innocent people in those cities (Gn 18:32). Yet the cities were destroyed by fire and brimstone because there were not ten innocent people in them.

Here are some things to ponder from this passage:

• Do we ever think we have reached the limits of God’s mercy? In the light of the new covenant, we know the Lord’s mercy is limitless.
• Our sins are often worse than we think. We need God’s mercy much more than we realize.
• Do we intercede according to the limits of our own mercy? Do we ever think that if people are that evil, they deserve to die? Let us instead live by God’s standards of mercy.

Do we ever underestimate God’s mercy and humanity’s need for it? Let us learn from this. “Blest are they who show mercy; mercy shall be theirs” (Mt 5:7).

Prayer: Father, make me a messenger of Your unlimited mercy.

Promise: "A scribe approached Him and said, 'Teacher, wherever You go I will come after You.' Jesus said to him, 'The foxes have lairs, the birds in the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.' " —Mt 8:19-20

Praise: The first martyrs of Rome served as seeds which caused faith to grow in countless others. They came from all classes of society — soldiers, peasants, nobility, and merchants.

(The Good News is just a phone call away. Try our Bible telephone line, 513-823-3111, for a brief Scripture teaching on the daily Mass readings.)

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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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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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BUILD UP THE CHURCH - One Bread, One Body, 06/29/2025

Sunday, June 29, 2025, Sts. Peter & Paul

Acts 12:1-11
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18
Psalm 34:2-9
Matthew 16:13-19
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BUILD UP THE CHURCH
"Peter was thus detained in prison, while the church prayed fervently to God on his behalf." —Acts 12:5

Because Jesus is God and is Head of the Church, the Church is invincible. For example, St. Peter, the leader of the leaders of the early Church, was miraculously freed from “death row” shortly before King Herod had planned to execute him. St. Paul, the great missionary of the early Church, testified: “I was saved from the lion’s jaws. The Lord will continue to rescue me from all attempts to do me harm and will bring me safe to His heavenly kingdom” (2 Tm 4:17-18). We, likewise, as members of the Church, “are more than conquerors because of Him Who has loved us” (Rm 8:37). The gates of hell cannot prevail against the Church (Mt 16:18).

Nonetheless, the Lord allows His Church to be persecuted. He even lets the members of His Church be martyred. Contrary to appearances, this does not mean that His Church is defeated and not invincible. Rather, it means that the Church is following in the footsteps of her crucified Head (Col 1:18). “You can depend on this: If we have died with Him we shall also live with Him; if we hold out to the end we shall also reign with Him” (2 Tm 2:11-12).

Therefore, rejoice that the Lord has chosen you to be a member of His Body, the invincible, persecuted Church. Love the Church (Eph 5:25). Joyfully and humbly submit to the authority of the Church (see Heb 13:17). Invite as many people as possible to give themselves to Jesus and enter His Church. Take your part in the Church and thereby build the Church.

Prayer: Father, like Jesus may I lay down my life for the Church (Eph 5:25; cf Acts 12:1-2).

Promise: "The Lord stood by my side and gave me strength, so that through me the preaching task might be completed and all the nations might hear the gospel." —2 Tm 4:17

Praise: St. Paul had to fraternally correct St. Peter. This brotherly act helped heal the division between Jews and Gentiles (see Gal 2:11-21).



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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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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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BLESSED ARE THE HOSPITABLE - One Bread, One Body, 06/28/2025

Saturday, June 28, 2025, Immaculate Heart of Mary

Genesis 18:1-15
Luke 1:46-50, 53-55
Luke 2:41-51

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BLESSED ARE THE HOSPITABLE
"Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and then rest yourselves under the tree. Now that you have come this close to your servant, let me bring you a little food." —Genesis 18:4-5

Abraham ran up to three strangers and begged them for the privilege of offering them hospitality. This prompted the writer of Hebrews to command us: “Do not neglect to show hospitality, for by that means some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Heb 13:2). St. Paul also commanded us to “be generous in offering hospitality” (Rm 12:13). When we offer hospitality by giving someone even a cup of cold water, we will not go unrewarded (see Mt 10:42). When we feed the hungry or give drink to the thirsty, we are giving service to God (Mt 25:40).

Showing hospitality is one of the main qualifications for being a Christian leader (1 Tm 3:2; Ti 1:8). Therefore, we should not only offer hospitality without complaining (1 Pt 4:9), but also beg people to accept our hospitality (e.g. Acts 16:15; Gn 18:4-5). Hospitality is a great privilege. Jesus Himself will offer His faithful ones hospitality at the end of the world. “It will go well with those servants whom the Master finds wide-awake on His return. I tell you, He will put on an apron, seat them at table, and proceed to wait on them” (Lk 12:37). Blessed are the hospitable: They shall serve God and be served by Him.

Prayer: Father, may I welcome everyone as if they were Your angels.

Promise: "His mercy is from age to age on those who fear Him." —Lk 1:50

Praise: Warren found the grace to overcome sexual temptations when he consecrated himself to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

(For a teaching on the Immaculate Heart of Mary listen to, download or order our AV 19-1 or V 19 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 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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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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