FUTURE NOW - One Bread, One Body, 11/15/2024

Friday, November 15, 2024, St. Albert the Great

2 John 4-9
Psalm 119:1-2, 10-11, 17-18
Luke 17:26-37

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FUTURE NOW
"As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They ate and drank, they took husbands and wives, right up to the day Noah entered the ark — and when the flood came, it destroyed them all." —Luke 17:26-27

At the end of the world, many people will not be prepared. This has also been the case with Noah’s flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and other catastrophes. Thus, to be prepared for the future, we must be prepared in the present for anything.

Are you ready for the end of the world and Jesus’ final coming now? Are you ready to die now? Are you ready to be martyred for Jesus now? If we’re not ready to die now, then we’re not ready to live the abundant life in Christ.

To be ready for anything now, we must be living in and for Jesus alone. Jesus is our only Hope, and the only Hope we need. Jesus is the Lord of the past, the present, and the future (see Heb 13:8). Jesus is the only name “in the whole world given to men by which we are to be saved” (Acts 4:12). Without Jesus, we can do nothing (Jn 15:5). In Jesus, nothing is impossible (Lk 1:37). Jesus is God, Who “is Love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” (1 Jn 4:16). “There is no condemnation now for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rm 8:1). When Jesus is our Life (see Jn 14:6; 11:25), we have eternal life. In Jesus, we will escape “the wrath to come” (1 Thes 1:10), for the Lord has plans for our welfare, not for woe — plans to give us a future full of hope (Jer 29:11). Give your life totally to Jesus now. Then look forward in joy to the future.

Prayer: Father, make all who read this holy in every aspect of their conduct (1 Pt 1:15).

Promise: "Look out that you yourselves do not lose what you have worked for; you must receive your reward in full." —2 Jn 8

Praise: One of St. Albert's greatest works was to help in discipling of one of his students, St. Thomas Aquinas.



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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 Octobert 1, 2024, through November 30, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 24, 2024"

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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O SAY, CAN YOU SEE? - One Bread, One Body, 11/14/2024

Thursday, November 14, 2024,

Philemon 7-20
Psalm 146:7-10
Luke 17:20-25

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O SAY, CAN YOU SEE?
"You cannot tell by careful watching when the reign of God will come." —Luke 17:20

We need eyes of faith to see the kingdom of God (2 Cor 5:7). We cannot observe the kingdom of God with natural eyesight, as Jesus states in today’s Gospel passage (Lk 17:20; see also 1 Cor 2:14-15). In the Sacrament of Baptism, we receive spiritual sight. However, if we do not live out our Baptism, we blind that spiritual sight and dwell “in darkness” (Mt 4:16). 

God sent Jesus to be our light (see Jn 1:9). But we must live in His light or we continue to live in darkness (1 Jn 1:6-7). Many of us have loved ones who reject faith and reject the Lord. Yes, some of this is due to rebellion, yet it is also a blindness. A spiritually blind person cannot see where he is going spiritually; it is all darkness to him. He or she literally cannot see the kingdom of God, as Jesus says (Lk 17:20).

Jesus says to us, His disciples: “You are the light of the world” (Mt 5:14). Jesus has sent us to our loved ones to be light for them. They cannot see the kingdom of God, but they can see us. We are beacons by which they can begin to see God’s kingdom.

The third luminous mystery of the Rosary is “The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the Call to Repentance.” The Word of God has power to lead to salvation (Rm 1:16). Jesus, the Living Word (Heb 4:12), came to open the eyes of the blind (Lk 4:18). Proclaim the sight-giving Word of God. Live a kingdom-lifestyle. Be a light shining in the darkness (Jn 5:35) to light the way to the Kingdom of God.

Prayer: Father, shine so brightly through me that many will find their way to You.

Promise: "The Lord sets captives free; the Lord gives sight to the blind." —Ps 146:7-8

Praise: When Beth decided to give God the first hour of the day in prayer, the rest of her day fell into godly order.

(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 the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from Octobert 1, 2024, through November 30, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 24, 2024"

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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SAVING SAYINGS - One Bread, One Body, 11/13/2024

Wednesday, November 13, 2024, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

Titus 3:1-7
Psalm 23:1-6
Luke 17:11-19

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SAVING SAYINGS
"He saved us." —Titus 3:5

“When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us” (Ti 3:4-5). “He saved us through the baptism of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit He lavished on us through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Ti 3:5-6). We have been saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:5, 8; see also Lk 17:19). Jesus, Whose name means “Yahweh saves,” is our Savior, our only Savior (see Acts 4:12).

The Lord commands us to:

• Rejoice in our salvation (Is 25:9). With Mary, we exclaim: “My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my Savior” (Lk 1:46-47).
• “Work with anxious concern to achieve [our] salvation” (Phil 2:12). This means we should live our salvation by being faithful to our baptismal promises.
• Share our salvation by witnessing for Jesus (Acts 1:8) and making disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19), for Jesus wants all to be saved (1 Tm 2:4).

Remember that without being saved by Jesus, we would be “foolish, disobedient, and far from true faith” (Ti 3:3), for “we were the slaves of our passions and of pleasures of various kinds. We went our way in malice and envy, hateful ourselves and hating one another” (Ti 3:3). Our lives would be hell on earth and hell after earth but for Jesus our Savior. We owe everything to Him. Therefore, let us rejoice in our salvation, live it to the full, and share it with everyone. Praise Jesus, our only Savior!

Prayer: Lord, I will make "myself all things to all men in order to save at least some of them" (1 Cor 9:22).

Promise: "One of them, realizing that he had been cured, came back praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself on his face at the feet of Jesus and spoke His praises." —Lk 17:15-16

Praise: St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was afflicted with frail health, but didn't let that stop her from founding the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart.



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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 Octobert 1, 2024, through November 30, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 24, 2024"

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 MALE-MAN - One Bread, One Body, 11/12/2024

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!

Tuesday, November 12, 2024, St. Josaphat

Titus 2:1-8, 11-14
Psalm 37:3-4, 18, 23, 27, 29
Luke 17:7-10

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THE MALE-MAN
"Tell the older men that they must be temperate, serious-minded, and self-controlled; likewise sound in the faith, loving and steadfast." —Titus 2:2 "Tell the young men to keep themselves completely under control." —Titus 2:6

In the USA, we often expect our parishes and pastors to provide for the religious education of our children. We expect our pastors to provide the sacraments and to reach out especially to the elderly and the sick. These expectations are good, but they are different than the early Church’s expectations for ministry.

St. Paul expected St. Titus, the pastor of the church of Crete, to focus his ministry on old men and young men so as to call these men to holiness (Ti 2:2, 6). Paul expected that holy men would make their marriages and families holy. In this way, the Church would have credibility. Many would listen to the Gospel and become Christians, thus making disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19).

In the Western world, there is something wrong. Symptoms of our problem are:

• our children leaving the Church,
• our inability to stop millions of children from being aborted,
• the breakdown of Catholic marriages, and
• the refusal of many young people to accept vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Considering the casualties the Church is suffering in our culture of death, “be on your guard lest you be led astray by the error of the wicked, and forfeit the security you enjoy” (2 Pt 3:17). This means focusing on the ministry to men.

Prayer: Father, may men lead their families in prayer, and in every place "offer prayers with blameless hands held aloft" (1 Tm 2:8).

Promise: "Take delight in the Lord, and He will grant you your heart's requests." —Ps 37:4

Praise: St. Josaphat's favorite prayer was the "Jesus" prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."



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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 Octobert 1, 2024, through November 30, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 24, 2024"

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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UNSHAKABLE FAITH - One Bread, One Body, 11/11/2024

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!

Monday, November 11, 2024, St. Martin of Tours

Titus 1:1-9
Psalm 24:1-6
Luke 17:1-6

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UNSHAKABLE FAITH
"Increase our faith." —Luke 17:5

Each of us lives by some measure of faith every day. We believe in the law of gravity. We have faith that the sun will rise each morning and set each night. When we set out on a journey, we have faith that the road will be solid and the bridges will not collapse. In many ways each day, we have faith that the world as we know it will continue operating as it has been. Yet “the world as we know it is passing away” (1 Cor 7:31).

God does not pass away, however, nor does His Word (Mt 5:18). God is reliable, rock-solid (Ps 18:3; 62:7-8). God’s love endures forever (Ps 136:1ff), even though this world will not. God will never forsake us (Heb 13:5). Though the mountains fall and the hills crumble, the love of the Lord stands firm (Is 54:10).

Jesus asked His apostles: “Does it shake your faith?” (Jn 6:61) Your faith won’t be shaken if it is based on the person of Jesus and His words, which are “spirit and life” (Jn 6:63).

God does test our faith by shaking things up (see Heb 12:26). His Word says that “shaken, created things will pass away, so that only what is unshaken may remain. Wherefore, we who are receiving the unshakable kingdom should hold fast to God’s grace” (Heb 12:27-28), through our unshakable faith. Beg Jesus to increase your faith, for “all depends on faith” (Rm 4:16). 

Prayer: Father, help me to be "among those who have faith and live" (Heb 10:39).

Promise: "The Lord's are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it." —Ps 24:1

Praise: St. Martin responded to Jesus' love by being imprisoned for his conscientious objection to military service.

(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 the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from Octobert 1, 2024, through November 30, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 24, 2024"

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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GIVING ALL - One Bread, One Body, 11/10/2024

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!

Sunday, November 10, 2024, 32nd Sunday Ordinary Time

1 Kings 17:10-16
Hebrews 9:24-28
Psalm 146:7-10
Mark 12:38-44
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GIVING ALL
"She gave from her want, all that she had to live on." —Mark 12:44

In today’s Mass readings, the Church highlights giving our all to God. The widow of Zarephath risked death by giving her last provisions to the prophet Elijah (1 Kgs 17:15-16). The Gospel widow gave “all that she had to live on” to the Lord, as Jesus testified (Mk 12:44). Jesus Himself sacrificed “all,” as the reading from Hebrews testifies (Heb 9:26). 

In giving all to God, one abandons all to God’s providence and mercy. The Zarephath widow was blessed with a year’s provisions. The Gospel widow’s fate is unknown. Regardless of the results, we entrust our entire being to the providence of God. He “gives food to the hungry” (Ps 146:7). “He sustains” the poor who trust in Him (Ps 146:9).

Jesus offered sacrifice to God. He poured out all His blood and offered Himself into the hands of His most merciful Father (Heb 9:12-14). Our greatest challenge is this: will we trust that God will be faithful? (2 Tm 2:8-13) God will not be outgiven. He says: “Try Me in this” (Mal 3:10).

Giving all to the Lord from a foundation of trust is at the very heart of our faith. We are not called to give for the purpose of getting rich ourselves. Rather, we are called to give in a spirit of complete abandonment, sacrificial love, and self-forgetfulness. We give all as Jesus did. We give joyfully because “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7). What will we give Him that we think we cannot do without? We give all to the Lord in trust and faith.

Prayer: Father, help me to accept the grace to be a cheerful, generous, and trusting giver (2 Cor 9:7).

Promise: "The Lord raises up those that were bowed down; the Lord loves the just." —Ps 146:8

Praise: Praise You, risen Jesus, my Shepherd. Glory be to You

(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 the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from Octobert 1, 2024, through November 30, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 24, 2024"

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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“ONE BREAD, ONE BODY” - One Bread, One Body, 11/09/2024

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!

Saturday, November 9, 2024, Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17
Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
John 2:13-22
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"ONE BREAD, ONE BODY"
"The temple of God is holy, and you are that temple."—1 Corinthians 3:17

Today we celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, which is considered the mother church of Christianity. Today we remember that there is only one Church because “there is but one body and one Spirit, just as there is but one hope given all of you by your call. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all” (Eph 4:4-6).

Jesus prayed “that all may be one as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; I pray that they may be [one] in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (Jn 17:21). God’s plan of salvation is “to bring all things in the heavens and on earth into one under Christ’s headship” (Eph 1:10).

Unity in Christ is necessary for the fulfillment of God’s plan for world evangelization. We have grown accustomed to centuries of disunity, thousands of denominations, and a debilitated Christianity. Many Christians have forgotten that Jesus is praying for His family to be one. Many have ceased even to want to be Church by God’s standards. We must repent, be reconciled, and be one as the Father and Son are One (see 1 Cor 1:10).

Prayer: Father, may we repent and accept the Holy Spirit of unity (Eph 4:3).

Promise: "No one can lay a foundation other than the one that has been laid, namely Jesus Christ." —1 Cor 3:11

Praise: St. John the Baptizer humbly recognized at the apex of his ministry that it was time for him to decrease (Jn 3:30) and Jesus to increase. He even sent two of his best disciples away to follow Jesus (Jn 1:36ff).

(For a related teaching on Introduction to Small Christian Communities, view, download or order our booklet or listen to, download or order our AV 76-1 and AV 76-3 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 the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from Octobert 1, 2024, through November 30, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 24, 2024"

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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