GREAT EXPECTATIONS - One Bread, One Body, 2/24/2009

Check out the PM retreat schedule and pray about coming to a retreat. Our
next retreat is Sat. Feb 28 and is called "Seek First the Kingdom of God".
It is at St. Michael's in Sharonville, OH.

http://www.presentationministries.com/general/event.asp?eventID=165

http://www.presentationministries.com/pjdc/retreat.asp
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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Sirach 2:1-11, Psalm 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40, Mark 9:30-37
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/022409.shtml

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

"When you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for trials." —Sirach
2:1

To prepare ourselves for trials, we must expect them. "Anyone who wants to
live a godly life in Christ Jesus can expect to be persecuted" (2 Tm
3:12). Expect it. "Christ suffered in the flesh; therefore arm yourselves
with His same mentality" (1 Pt 4:1).

The psalmist stated: "If an enemy had reviled me, I could have borne
it...but you, my other self, my companion and my bosom friend!" (Ps 55:13,
14) It is hardest to take sufferings inflicted by those closest to us,
because we don't expect them to hurt us.

However, we must be like Jesus. He knew and expected that His apostles and
disciples would abandon Him, Peter would deny Him three times, and Judas
would betray Him. Jesus even knew and expected that each one of us would
share in crucifying Him through our sins. Jesus prepared Himself for the
greatest of all trials.

Expect suffering, but don't dread it. Rather, in love for Jesus, rejoice
in suffering (1 Pt 4:13; Col 1:24).

Prayer: Father, purify me through trials.

Promise: "If anyone wishes to rank first, He must remain the last one of
all and the servant of all." —Mk 9:35

Praise: God has shown Joanna what a privilege it is to be chosen for the
job of dealing with a son who has mental health issues.

(Women, plan to begin the season of Lent on March 4th with a retreat that
focuses on issues that affect your role and dignity as women. The retreat
takes place at the Paul Jansen Discipleship Center in the Appalachian
setting of rural Adams County, near Peebles, Ohio. Call 937-587-5464 or
513-373-2397 for more information or to register.)

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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from
February 1, 2009 through March 31, 2009
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, August 11, 2008

The rescript 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 ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.

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