RARE, INDISPENSABLE FAITH - One Bread, One Body, 8/8/2009

O, Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, ...I adore You.
Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me.
Tell me what I should do ...give me Your orders.
I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me
and to accept all that You permit to happen to me.
Let me only know Your will.
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Saturday, August 8, 2009, St. Dominic

Deuteronomy 6:4-13, Psalm 18:2-4, 47, 51, Matthew 17:14-20
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/080809.shtml

RARE, INDISPENSABLE FAITH

"Jesus said: 'What an unbelieving and perverse lot you are!' " —Matthew
17:17

Jesus called His disciples "an unbelieving lot" because they failed to
drive out a demon. He implied they did not even have the miniscule faith
comparable to a mustard seed (Mt 17:20). On another occasion, Jesus
wondered if there would be any faith in the whole world when He returned
for the second and final time (Lk 18:8).

According to these statements by Jesus, faith seems rare, even an
"endangered species." Yet, Jesus expects us to have faith, for "all
depends on faith" (Rm 4:16). "Faith is confident assurance concerning what
we hope for, and conviction about things we do not see" (Heb 11:1). This
assurance is a result of a deep, personal relationship. When Jesus wonders
if there will be any faith on earth when He returns, He is questioning
whether anyone will be in a deep, personal relationship with Him at that
time.

We know that at the end of the world there will be a mass apostasy (2 Thes
2:3) and the love of most will become cold (Mt 24:12). We hope, however,
that at least a "remnant" (Is 1:9) will still be loving Jesus and
believing in Him. Because faith can be so rare and the end of the world so
challenging, we must do all we can now to strengthen our personal
relationship with Jesus and thereby grow in faith.

Prayer: Father, deepen my faith and improve my spiritual hearing as I
read, pray, and live Your word (Rm 10:17).

Promise: "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with
all your soul, and with all your strength." —Dt 6:5

Praise: St. Dominic believed so much that he resisted violence and would
only employ prayer and teaching to fight his enemies. He spread the faith
among heretics in an abundant way.

(For a related teaching, order our tape "The Remnant" on audio AV 79-3 or
video V-79.)

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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
August 1, 2009 through September 30, 2009
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, February 11, 2009

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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