CROWDED CONDITIONS - One Bread, One Body, 09/27/2024

For a limited time, we have many extra One Bread, One Body books in English (for the October-November issue) available to share with others in your parishes, rosary or prayer groups, family members, or in personal ministry i.e. nursing homes, prison ministry: whoever might benefit from this publication.
To get extra OBOB books in English (call (513) 662 5378) or email: orders@presentationministries.com with your request.
Please include the quantity of books, along with the name and address for shipping. May God bless your efforts to evangelize!

Friday, September 27, 2024, St. Vincent de Paul

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
Psalm 144:1-4
Luke 9:18-22

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CROWDED CONDITIONS
Jesus "put the question to them, 'Who do the crowds say that I am?' " —Luke 9:18

Before Jesus asked His disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” (Lk 9:20), He asked: “Who do the crowds say that I am?” (Lk 9:18) Jesus did this to show we must separate ourselves from the crowd if we are to truly acknowledge Him as the Messiah, Lord, and God (see Lk 9:20).

Crowd-pleasers aren’t God-pleasers. Jesus is not popular; He is a “sign that will be opposed” (Lk 2:34). The crowd took part in crucifying Jesus, and it hasn’t changed. Therefore, we are enemies of Christ and His cross if we are a crowd-pleaser, set on the things of the world, those things the crowd has always run after (Phil 3:18-19; see also Jas 4:4).

When we step out of line, the crowd sees this as our judgment against it (Wis 2:12). This makes us unpopular, then rejected, and finally hated and persecuted (see Jn 15:19-21). This helps us understand Jesus’ words to Peter after his profession of faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus said: “The Son of Man...must first endure many sufferings, be rejected by the elders, the high priests and the scribes, and be put to death, and then be raised up on the third day” (Lk 9:22). Believing in Jesus means not being part of the crowd, which means suffering as Jesus suffered.

Don’t get crowded out of life in Christ. It’s better to be persecuted by the crowd than to be persecuting in the crowd. Follow Jesus; leave the crowd behind.

Prayer: Father, may I never cry out, "Crucify Him, crucify Him," no matter how many people are yelling it (see Mt 27:22-23).

Promise: "Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, Who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war; my Refuge and my Fortress, my Stronghold, my Deliverer, my Shield, in Whom I trust." —Ps 144:1-2

Praise: St. Vincent de Paul is the patron saint of all charitable societies.



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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 August 1, 2024, through September 30, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio November 22, 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.

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