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Sunday, March 13, 2011

THE VIEW FROM THE DESERT - One Bread, One Body, 3/13/2011

"Lent and Baptism" is the title of the latest issue of Pope Benedict XVI, Shepherd of Truth.
--> http://www.presentationministries.com/BST/latestBST.asp

Pope Benedict XVI, Shepherd of Truth is designed as a bulletin insert which you can use at your local church to keep up to date on what the Holy Father is saying. You are free to reproduce it for this purpose.
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Sunday, March 13, 2011, First Sunday of Lent

Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Psalm 51:3-6, 12-14, 17, Matthew 4:1-11
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/031311.shtml

THE VIEW FROM THE DESERT

"Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit." -Matthew 4:1

In the stark desolation of the physical desert, you can:
* see clearly without distraction.
* live simply, in a "lean and mean" lifestyle. Only the basic necessities for survival are valuable.
* discern value clearly. We tend to overvalue the things the world affords (1 Jn 2:16). In the desert, a cup of water has far more value than a diamond necklace.

In Lent, the Holy Spirit leads us into the desert to speak to our heart (Hos 2:16). This spiritual desert is similar to the physical desert:
* Temptations can be seen more clearly for what they are, without distraction.
* Things that seem so important in the world, such as the regard of others, fade into obscurity in the spiritual desert.
* Things that seem obscure in the clutter of society, such as God's opinion of you, are critically important in the desert.
* Your need for God's provision and protection is acute in the desert. The consequences of rebelling against God's direction can be fatal.

Most of all, the desert is a place of love (see Jer 2:2). In the desert the Lord allures us (Hos 2:16) by pouring out His love into our heart through the Holy Spirit (Rm 5:5). The Israelites grumbled in the desert (see Ex 16:2), but in the Lenten desert, we will rejoice (Is 35:1). "In the desert prepare the way of the Lord!" (Is 40:3)

Prayer: Jesus, let me count everything as loss so that I may always consider You, and You alone, to be my Wealth (Phil 3:7-8).

Promise: "Through one Man's obedience, all shall become just." -Rm 5:19

Praise: Praise Jesus, Who precedes us into the desert and teaches us how to pray.

(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 my permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from February 1, 2011 through March 31, 2011
?Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July27, 2010

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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Saturday, March 12, 2011

REPENTANCE ACCORDING TO WHOM? - One Bread, One Body, 3/12/2011

Fasting for Lent? This Daily Bread radio program entitled "Fasting" will teach you more about fasting and help you fast this Lent.

http://www.presentationministries.com/player/mp3Info.asp?mp3ID=1221
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Saturday, March 12, 2011

Isaiah 58:9-14, Psalm 86:1-6, Luke 5:27-32
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/031211.shtml

REPENTANCE ACCORDING TO WHOM?

"Leaving everything behind, Levi stood up and became His follower." -Luke 5:28

Ever since Ash Wednesday, the Church has intensified its calls for us to repent. Today, it gives us an example of repentance in Levi (also named Matthew), the former tax-collector and the writer of the first book in the New Testament. When we think of repentance, we may be considering slight modifications of our behavior. However, when Jesus and His body, the Church, call us to repentance, they expect us to make radical changes, a "metanoia," a 180-degree turn, an about-face. Levi is a good example of what the Lord means by repentance.

We need Levi's example because sin blinds us to sin or at least partially blinds us to the severity of our sins (see 1 Jn 2:11; 2 Cor 4:4). We don't think we need to change that much because we're blind to how far away we are from God's will. Moreover, we're surrounded by people who feel the same way. If we really repented, we'd be considered fanatical rather than truly repentant, at least in the eyes of the spiritually blind. We need the example of Levi. He is not unusual in how extensively he needed to repent. Most of us probably need just as dramatic a repentance. However, Levi's repentance is unusual in that he was freed from spiritual blindness and then saw how his life needed to be radically changed.

Repent by God's standards, not by the standards of the spiritually blind.

Prayer: Father, open my eyes to see at least the top two layers of my sins.

Promise: "The ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake, and the foundations from ages past you shall raise up; 'Repairer of the breach,' they shall call you, 'Restorer of ruined homesteads.' " -Is 58:12

Praise: It was during Lent that God opened Monica's eyes to her bad habit of gossiping.

(Check out our website for information about our retreat center: www.presentationministries.com. Come make a silent retreat.)

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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
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Friday, March 11, 2011

A WHOLE-PERSON FAST - One Bread, One Body, 3/11/2011

Fasting for Lent? This Daily Bread radio program entitled "Fasting" will teach you more about fasting and help you fast this Lent.

http://www.presentationministries.com/player/mp3Info.asp?mp3ID=1221
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Friday, March 11, 2011

Isaiah 58:1-9, Psalm 51:3-6, 18-19, Matthew 9:14-15
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/031111.shtml

A WHOLE-PERSON FAST

"My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, You will not spurn." -Psalm 51:19

On this first Lenten Friday, we fast by limiting our intake of food as well as abstaining from eating meat. We fast so as to share in the sufferings of the body of Christ (Col 1:24). We are to care more about the broken body of Christ than our own hungry bodies. If our growling stomachs only lead us to focus on our own needs, is this the kind of fasting God wants (Is 58:5), to make us more occupied with ourselves than we were before we started fasting? To test our motives, the Lord asks: "Was it really for Me that you fasted?" (Zec 7:5) Or "was it not for yourselves"? (Zec 7:6) The kind of fasting God wants are those fasts offered to Him by people humble and contrite enough (Ps 51:19) to offer their fastings for a breakthrough in His kingdom.

This Lent, let's involve not just our mouths and stomachs in fasting, but the other parts of our body as well. Fast with a contrite and humbled heart. We can add our hearts to our fast by offering God a broken, humbled heart which mourns for prisoners, the hungry, homeless, naked (Is 58:6-7), and others who suffer. Fast with eyes fixed on Jesus and His word (Heb 12:2). Fast with "ears open to obedience" (Ps 40:7). Fast with your whole person: your mind, heart, soul, stomach, eyes, ears, mouth, hands, and feet (see Lk 10:27). Bring down the kingdom of darkness and build up the body of Christ by your Lenten fasting (Mt 17:21, NAB).

Prayer: Jesus, You suffered in Your entire body for the good of all. May I arm myself with Your same mentality (1 Pt 4:1).

Promise: "The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard." -Is 58:8

Praise: Jo Ann witnessed the power of fasting when she saw a family member freed from bondage.

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.) (Offer your time, treasures, and talents to the Lord by helping us maintain and grow our retreat center. Call 937-587-5464 to help.)

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Thursday, March 10, 2011

THE JOY OF SELF-DENIAL - One Bread, One Body, 3/10/2011

The Scriptural Stations of the Cross will feed us spiritually. Several Scripture passages are quoted for each station. We give little or no commentary but let the Scriptures speak for themselves.

http://www.presentationministries.com/brochures/ScripStat.asp
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Thursday, March 10, 2011

Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 1:1-4, 6, Luke 9:22-25
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/031011.shtml

THE JOY OF SELF-DENIAL

"Jesus said to all: 'Whoever wishes to be My follower must deny his very self.' " -Luke 9:23

To follow Jesus, we must deny our very selves. I had always thought of this as a rather unappealing task until I heard a homily that said denying ourselves was one thing that makes human beings different from animals. Animals have no power to deny themselves. They just go by their instinctual desires as programmed by their genetic makeup. Animals are not and cannot be free; they are only programmed or trained to varying degrees.

However, human beings can say "No" to their desires and instincts. We are not just genetically programmed. We are free! To deny ourselves is to declare our independence. "Doing our own thing" is not doing our own thing but deceiving ourselves and abdicating our freedom. To do only what we feel like is to denigrate oneself to a sub-human condition. To deny ourselves is to be fully human, to be free, to be empowered by God's supernatural power.

As we begin to fast in some way for each of the forty days of Lent, let's consider it a privilege to deny ourselves. By God's grace, we can deny ourselves, take up Jesus' cross each day, follow Him, lose our lives, and save our lives (Lk 9:23-24). By God's grace, we can be human, free, and supernatural. Happy Lent!

Prayer: Father, may I rejoice in self-denial.

Promise: "I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the Lord, your God, heeding His voice, and holding fast to Him." -Dt 30:19-20

Praise: Marcia found a new freedom when giving up TV for Lent.

(For a related teaching, order our tape on "Developing a Deep Personal Relationship with Jesus" on audio AV 52-1 or video V-52.)

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Wednesday, March 9, 2011

NOW OR NEVER? - One Bread, One Body, 3/9/2011

The Scriptural Stations of the Cross will feed us spiritually. Several Scripture passages are quoted for each station. We give little or no commentary but let the Scriptures speak for themselves.

http://www.presentationministries.com/brochures/ScripStat.asp
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Wednesday, March 9, 2011, Ash Wednesday

Joel 2:12-18, 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2, Psalm 51:3-6, 12-14, 17, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/030911.shtml

NOW OR NEVER?

"Even now, says the Lord, return to Me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning." -Joel 2:12

As we begin this Lent, God's word for today is "now." "Now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!" (2 Cor 6:2) The Lord wants us to complete through repentance and healing the unfinished business of the past and to live in the present, now. He also wants us to quit putting off important decisions to a future time. Let's live for God now.

As we begin this Lent, God's word for us is also "even now" (Jl 2:12). What seems hopeless to you? Where is the destruction so great and the time so late? Jesus promises: "Even now," your marriage can be restored. "Even now," you can recover your health. "Even now," our country can be freed from the curse of shedding the innocent blood of aborted babies. "Even now," our lukewarm and sinful loved ones can be renewed. "Even now," Jesus can free us from years of compulsive behavior. "Even now," we can repent of the sins we have always rationalized. "Even now," we can accept God's grace to forgive.

The ashen crosses on our foreheads are not marks of passivity or despair, but signs of hope. We believe that "now" is "new" and that "even now" there is hope. Lent means "springtime." Repentance evokes rejoicing (Lk 15:7, 10, 32). Fasting leads to freedom (Is 58:6). The cross is the tree of life. Therefore, "now" and "even now," let us return to the Lord with all our hearts (Jl 2:12).

Prayer: Father, I commit to empty myself by fasting for forty days. Fill me with hope.

Promise: "No one can see you are fasting but your Father Who is hidden; and your Father Who sees what is hidden will repay you." -Mt 6:18

Praise: Last year during Lent, Danielle returned to the Church after an absence of many years. She made a full Confession on Holy Saturday, and celebrated Easter by receiving Jesus in the Eucharist.

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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

DOING YOUR TAXES? - One Bread, One Body, 3/8/2011

To prepare for Lent read our publication entitled, "The Secret of Confession"

http://www.presentationministries.com/brochures/SecretConfession.asp
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Tuesday, March 8, 2011, St. John of God

Tobit 2:9-14, Psalm 112:1-2, 7-9, Mark 12:13-17
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/030811.shtml

DOING YOUR TAXES?

"Is it lawful to pay?" -Mark 12:14

The Pharisees and the Herodians thought they had trapped Jesus when they asked Him whether or not they should pay taxes to the Roman emperor. If Jesus told them to pay taxes to the oppressive Roman government, then He would lose His popularity with the masses. This popularity protected Jesus from being arrested by the Jewish leaders (see Mk 12:12; 14:2). If Jesus lost His popularity, it would be much easier for the Jews to arrest Him.

On the other hand, if Jesus told the people not to pay taxes, then the Romans would be compelled to arrest Jesus, despite the crowds. Then the Jewish religious leaders would have gotten rid of Jesus by using the Romans to do their "dirty work."

Jesus escaped the trap by saying: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, but give to God what is God's" (Mk 12:17). The masses were pleased that Jesus did not tell them to pay taxes, and the Romans did not have the Jewish background to fully understand exactly what Jesus was saying to the people.

Jesus' escape was amazing. Therefore, "their amazement at Him knew no bounds" (Mk 12:17).

Prayer: Father, I accept Your grace to correctly form my conscience regarding paying federal and state income taxes which fund abortions.

Promise: "Happy the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commands." -Ps 112:1

Praise: St. John's great acts of love and service to the poor and sick were fueled by his deep life of prayer and sacrifice.

(Do you feel you are trapped by the world and its ways? If so, come make a silent retreat and let the Lord disentangle you! Presentation Ministries' retreat center is located in beautiful Adams County, Ohio. Call 937-587-5464 or 513-373-2397 or see our website www.presentationministries.com to register or for information.)

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Monday, March 7, 2011

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER - One Bread, One Body, 3/7/2011

To prepare for Lent read our publication entitled, "The Secret of Confession"

http://www.presentationministries.com/brochures/SecretConfession.asp
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Monday, March 7, 2011, Sts. Perpetua & Felicity

Tobit 1:3; 2:1-8, Psalm 112:1-6, Mark 12:1-12
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/030711.shtml

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

"On our festival of Pentecost, the feast of Weeks, a fine dinner was prepared for me, and I reclined to eat." -Tobit 2:1

Today's first reading mentions the feast of Pentecost. In two days, the season of Lent begins, followed by the fifty-day Easter season, which culminates in Pentecost, the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. Possibly your Pentecost celebration last year left something to be desired. Tobit had a similar problem. When Tobit celebrated Pentecost, he lived in exile. Tobit's Pentecost meal was interrupted when he found the body of a strangled, murdered man and hid him in his house so that he could bury him in secret after nightfall (Tb 2:3-4). Under these conditions, Tobit's Pentecost was turned into mourning (Tb 2:6). He ate his food in sorrow and wept (Tb 2:5, 7). Then things got worse, as Tobit was blinded in a freak accident (Tb 2:10).

Your Pentecost was probably not as bad as Tobit's, but was it very good? Were you filled with the Holy Spirit? Have you led or even tried to lead many others to a saving love for Jesus? If not, start preparing now for a new Pentecost. This Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. Repent in ashes, and fast as Jesus fasted. Renew your baptismal promises as the Church did on Easter Sunday. "Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

Pentecost does not have to be lost; we can do it over. Come, Holy Spirit!

Prayer: Father, may I not settle for anything less than Pentecost.

Promise: "The Stone rejected by the builders has become the Keystone of the structure. It was the Lord Who did it and we find it marvelous to behold." -Mk 12:10-11

Praise: Despite pressure from her own father, St. Perpetua remained firm in her faith. St. Perpetua, St. Felicity and their three companions were joined in martyrdom by the Christian who had converted them.

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