UNSHACKLED - One Bread, One Body, 10/26/2026

Monday, October 26, 2026,

Ephesians 4:32—5:8
Psalm 1:1-4, 6
Luke 13:10-17

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UNSHACKLED
“Should not this daughter of Abraham here who has been in the bondage of Satan for eighteen years have been released from her shackles on the sabbath?” —Luke 13:16

Jesus laid His hand on a woman who had been shackled, bound, and chained for eighteen years with health problems, and she was freed (Lk 13:11-13). “Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with double chains, while guards kept watch” (Acts 12:6). Jesus freed Peter from the shackles of his chains in prison shortly before he was to be executed.

Jesus came “to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind and release to prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord” (Lk 4:18-19). Jesus brought a perpetual jubilee year of liberation. When Jesus “ascended on high, He took a host of captives and gave gifts to men” (Eph 4:8).

Jesus is called the Lamb, which is the symbol of the Israelite nation being freed from the shackles of Egyptian slavery. Jesus is called the Redeemer, that is, the One Who has paid the price to set us free. Jesus is the Truth (Jn 14:6), and the Truth will set us free (Jn 8:32). “That is why, if the Son frees you, you will really be free” (Jn 8:36).

Right now, ask Jesus to free you from the shackles of any chains, bondage, compulsions, or addictions. Even if you have had these chains for years, Jesus will free you now. Pray: “Jesus, Lamb, Redeemer, Truth, Lord, Savior, and God, have mercy on me and set me free.” You are free in Jesus.

Prayer: Jesus, unshackle me for a ministry of setting captives free.

Promise: “As for lewd conduct or promiscuousness or lust of any sort, let them not even be mentioned among you; your holiness forbids this.” —Eph 5:3

Praise: After twenty years of drug addiction, John was set free in an instant, the instant he turned to his Redeemer.

(To help you become unshackled, view, download or order our booklet The Truth Will Set You Free 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 October 1, 2026, through November 30, 2026, by Presentation Ministries. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio April 1, 2026"

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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A “WHOLE” IN MY HEART - One Bread, One Body, 10/25/2026

Sunday, October 25, 2026, 30th Sunday Ordinary Time

Exodus 22:20-26
1 Thessalonians 1:5-10
Psalm 18:2-4, 47, 51
Matthew 22:34-40
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A “WHOLE” IN MY HEART
“You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart.” —Matthew 22:37

We disciples of Christ are called to holiness. We are also called to “whole-liness.” We are to love God with our whole heart, our whole soul, and our whole mind (Mt 22:37).

It all begins with God’s love for us. “The love of God [is] poured out in our hearts” (Rm 5:5). God’s poured-out love fills our hearts with love for Him and for others (Mt 22:37). So “we, for our part, love because He first loved us” (1 Jn 4:19). Now we are full of God’s love.

True love, however, is not satisfied with being full. Love wants to grow and is always searching for a never-ending increase of still more love. Impelled by love (2 Cor 5:14), we ask God to give us a new heart (Ez 36:26). Now God pours out His love again (Rm 5:5) and our whole heart is filled. Overflowing with love, we can’t help but respond to God with more love. Therefore, we ask God to “enlarge” our hearts (Acts 20:32) so we can love Him more deeply. We even reach the point where we love God so much that we abide in God and God in us (1 Jn 4:16).

This cycle of love continues until the day of our death. On that day, we should have a huge heart of love for the Lord. At our death, we who love the Lord with our whole heart will rejoice as we see “what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor 2:9). We will see Him “face to face” (1 Cor 13:12).

Prayer: Father, I can’t love You if I don’t love Your people. Help me to love myself, then love my neighbor as myself (Mt 22:39).

Promise: “Praised be the Lord, I exclaim, and I am safe from my enemies.” —Ps 18:4

Praise: “Praise the Lord, O my soul; I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I live” (Ps 146:1-2).

(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 October 1, 2026, through November 30, 2026, by Presentation Ministries. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio April 1, 2026"

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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HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW? - One Bread, One Body, 10/24/2026

Saturday, October 24, 2026, St. Anthony Mary Claret

Ephesians 4:7-16
Psalm 122:1-5
Luke 13:1-9

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HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?
“Cut it down.” —Luke 13:7

One possible way to view the parable in today’s Gospel passage is to consider yourself to be the owner of the vineyard and God to be the Gardener. As the owner, we want to discard the fig tree which has not produced any fruit for three years. God is the Gardener (see Gn 2:8), and He never gives up on any person. Think of a person you would like to remove from the garden of your life. This person never does anything productive for you. He or she clutters up your life and exhausts your energy (see Lk 13:7, NAB), and so you want to discard this person.

As the owner of the vineyard, we are tempted to say, “Kill it! Rid the garden of the likes of it! It’s not worthy to live!” (see Acts 22:22) Yet God, the Gardener, is ever patient, ever caring, ever “fertilizing” (see Lk 13:8). God’s patience is always focused on salvation (2 Pt 3:9; 1 Tm 2:4). God “descends” (see Eph 4:9) to give special care to what we, the owners, want to discard. But God the Gardener won’t even let us “pull up the weeds,” for He knows that, mysteriously, we ourselves might also be uprooted (see Mt 13:29).

How patient God is! How much He longs to seek and save the lost (Lk 19:10). He sends fertilization in the form of His nourishing Word (Mt 4:4) and His Sacraments, especially His Eucharistic Body, to those most in need. Ask the Lord to give you His own mind (1 Cor 2:16) and His heart of love for the unlovable.

Prayer: Father, give me Your eyes, heart, and mind (1 Cor 2:16), so I might view the people in my life as You view them (1 Jn 4:17).

Promise: “Let us profess the truth in love and grow to the full maturity of Christ the Head.” —Eph 4:15

Praise: St. Anthony Mary Claret founded a religious institute of missionaries known as the Claretians.

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
(Give our Bible Telephone Line a try. Call 513-823-3111.)

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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 October 1, 2026, through November 30, 2026, by Presentation Ministries. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio April 1, 2026"

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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TRINITY-UNITY - One Bread, One Body, 10/23/2026

Friday, October 23, 2026, St. John of Capistrano

Ephesians 4:1-6
Psalm 24:1-6
Luke 12:54-59

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TRINITY-UNITY
“Make every effort to preserve the unity.” —Ephesians 4:3

The Lord has called us to unity — to be one as the Trinity is one (see Jn 17:21). Jesus died (Jn 11:51-52) so that we would be baptized into one body, in one Spirit (1 Cor 12:13), in one hope, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father” (Eph 4:4-6).

Because our Trinity-unity is at the heart of God’s plan, it is the prime target of the evil one. Consequently, we must “make every effort to preserve the unity which has the Spirit as its origin and peace as its binding force” (Eph 4:3). To preserve and deepen unity with the Lord, in the Church, and in marriage and family, we should:

• “be filled with the Spirit” (see Eph 5:18) and never stifle the Spirit of unity (see 1 Thes 5:19),
• repent of sins, for sins always divide the body of Christ,
• receive Holy Communion daily or as frequently as possible,
• submit to the authority of the Church, for there is no unity without authority, and
• forgive 70 X 7 (Mt 18:22).

The Lord commands us: “Make every effort to preserve the unity which has the Spirit as its origin” (Eph 4:3). Obey the Lord of unity.

Prayer: Father, to preserve unity I will accept Your grace to take up the cross and humble myself. Give us a new Pentecost of unity.

Promise: “He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, a reward from God his Savior.” —Ps 24:5

Praise: St. John of Capistrano devoted himself to increasing the fruitfulness of his own Franciscan brothers and sisters.

(For a related teaching on Don’t Stifle the Spirit, listen to, download or order AV 56-3 or V 56 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 October 1, 2026, through November 30, 2026, by Presentation Ministries. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio April 1, 2026"

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

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PURE SUFFERING - One Bread, One Body, 10/22/2026

Thursday, October 22, 2026, Pope St. John Paul II

Ephesians 3:14-21
Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19
Luke 12:49-53

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PURE SUFFERING
“I have come to light a fire on the earth.” —Luke 12:49

When we use the word “fire,” we think of light, warmth, or even of being “fired-up,” that is, enthusiastic. However, when the Bible speaks of fire, it usually means sufferings resulting in purification (see 1 Pt 1:7). So when Jesus said He came to light a fire on the earth, He was indicating His desire to suffer so as to purify the whole world. He did this by receiving a baptism (Lk 12:50), an immersion in the fires of Calvary’s purifying sufferings.

Although Jesus on Calvary has already received the baptism in fire to purify the whole world, He wants us to share in His sufferings of purification (Col 1:24). He wants us also to be baptized in fire and in the Spirit (Lk 3:16). When we receive the Holy Spirit, this will cause us to suffer rejection, pain, and persecution, even from our family members (see Lk 12:52). These sufferings are part of Christ’s purifying fire. Pray: “Holy Spirit, come with Your fire, purify our hearts.”

Prayer: Father, like Jesus, may I learn obedience and be perfected by what I suffer (Heb 5:8-9).

Promise: “I kneel before the Father from Whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.” —Eph 3:14-15

Praise: Samantha experienced a deep conversion to the Lord Jesus on the day Pope St. John Paul II passed away. She didn’t realize this until she made a pilgrimage to the Pope’s birthplace in Poland twenty years later.

(For a related teaching on Redemptive Suffering, listen to, download or order AV 75-1 or V 75 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 October 1, 2026, through November 30, 2026, by Presentation Ministries. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio April 1, 2026"

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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LIVING ON THE EDGE - One Bread, One Body, 10/21/2026

Wednesday, October 21, 2026,

Ephesians 3:2-12
Isaiah 12:2-6
Luke 12:39-48

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LIVING ON THE EDGE
“Be on guard, therefore. The Son of Man will come when you least expect Him.” —Luke 12:40

We should live each day as if it were our last and as if it were the last day for the world. Today and each day should be “dress rehearsals” for the Second Coming of Christ.

We have reason to believe that we will be ready for Christ’s Second Coming if today we are managing with faith and wisdom all the resources, time, charisms, talents, and opportunities the Lord has given us (see Lk 12:42). If we are spending today feeding people physically and spiritually (Lk 12:42), we are getting ready for Christ’s coming. If we are no longer living for ourselves (2 Cor 5:15) but see ourselves as Christ’s slaves (Lk 12:43 in the Greek), we are ready to cry out “Maranatha!” until Jesus comes again (see Rv 22:20).

However, if we spend some of this day hurting others in our anger, bitterness, or unforgiveness (Lk 12:45), we are not ready for Christ’s coming, or our own death, or the trials and opportunities of this day. Also, if we live this day to maximize our pleasures (see Lk 12:45), we are not ready to live forever or even for today.

If we are ready for Christ’s Second Coming, we are ready for anything, even for today. Live on the edge — the edge of this world and this life.

Prayer: Father, help me hasten the time of Christ’s return (2 Pt 3:12).

Promise: “When much has been given a man, much will be required of him. More will be asked of a man to whom more has been entrusted.” —Lk 12:48

Praise: Jana experienced a heart-wrenching division in her extended family until God healed and reunited them all in His love.

(For a related teaching on Judgment Day, listen to, download or order our AV 75-3 or V 75 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 October 1, 2026, through November 30, 2026, by Presentation Ministries. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio April 1, 2026"

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 SIGN OF PEACE - One Bread, One Body, 10/20/2026

Tuesday, October 20, 2026, St. Paul of the Cross

Ephesians 2:12-22
Psalm 85:9-14
Luke 12:35-38

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THE SIGN OF PEACE
“I will hear what God proclaims; the Lord — for He proclaims peace.” —Psalm 85:9

Christ “is our Peace” (Eph 2:14). Christ made “peace, reconciling both of us to God in one body through His cross, which put that enmity to death. He came and ‘announced the good news of peace’ ” (Eph 2:15-17). Christ is Peace, makes peace, and announces peace. By “peace,” the Lord, being Jewish, means “shalom,” that is, harmony and God’s order in our lives and in the world. In Christ and in shalom, our lives are integrated rather than fragmented, full rather than deprived, and whole rather than broken. Shortly before His death, Jesus announced His last will and testament. In the will, He left His shalom-peace to His disciples (Jn 14:27).

Are you receiving your inheritance of shalom? Are you living fully for Jesus? Are you living your Baptism? Is the harmonious order of your life truly a masterpiece of God’s grace? Is your life an example of God’s shalom-peace, which is beyond our human understanding? (Phil 4:7) Is your life something beautiful by and for God? Let us give each other the sign of shalom-peace.

Prayer: Father, make me a peacemaker (Mt 5:9) even if I have to suffer and die as Jesus did.

Promise: 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

Praise: St. Paul of the Cross loved Christ crucified and led many others to be devoted to that love (1 Cor 2:2).

(Married couples, take some time to renew your commitment to each other and the Lord at our Nov. 13-14 retreat. Call 513-373-2397 or see www.presentationministries.com.)

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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 October 1, 2026, through November 30, 2026, by Presentation Ministries. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio April 1, 2026"

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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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..