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Sunday, April 15, 2012

PASSING ON MERCY - One Bread, One Body, 4/15/2012

Sunday, April 15, 2012, Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday

Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 5:1-6, Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24, John 20:19-31
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041512.cfm

PASSING ON MERCY

"Let those who fear the Lord say, 'His mercy endures forever.' " -Psalm 118:4

Fr. Al Lauer, founder and longtime author of One Bread, One Body, would often on these pages define mercy as treating someone better than they deserve. On the first Easter evening, Jesus treated His apostles with great mercy. Though they had fled from Him when He was arrested, Jesus would not lay a guilt trip on them. Instead, His first words to them were, "Peace be with you" (Jn 20:19).
It would be understandable if Jesus was reluctant to entrust His disciples with any responsibility. Nonetheless, Jesus still sent them out (Jn 20:21), entrusting them with His power, though they were still fearful (Jn 20:19). He gave them the Holy Spirit (Jn 20:22). He gave Thomas a second chance to undo his earlier doubts (Jn 20:27); later, He gave Peter a second chance to undo his earlier denials (Jn 21:15).
How "rich in mercy" Jesus is! (Eph 2:4) Jesus gives us, His disciples, incredible mercy. Now he has entrusted us with the opportunity to pass on His mercy to others. Who in your life needs a second chance after letting you down miserably? On this Divine Mercy Sunday, be merciful, as Jesus is merciful (see Lk 6:36, RSV-CE).

Prayer: Jesus, I trust in You. Mercy of God, I trust in You.

Promise: "Who, then, is conqueror of the world? The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." -1 Jn 5:5

Praise: Jesus is risen! "Let the house of Israel say, 'His mercy endures forever' " (Ps 118:2). Alleluia!

(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 April 1, 2012 through May 31, 2012
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 31, 2011

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, April 14, 2012

WITNESS STAND - One Bread, One Body, 4/14/2012

Saturday, April 14, 2012, Easter Saturday

Acts 4:13-21, Psalm 118:1, 14-21, Mark 16:9-15
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041412.cfm

WITNESS STAND

"I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord." -Psalm 118:17

Those witnessing for the risen Christ are a sign of contradiction (see Lk 2:34) to the culture of death in which we live. Therefore, those who have not met the risen Christ and are enslaved by the devil, the prince of death (Heb 2:14-15), oppose those proclaiming risen life in Christ. They will threaten us with punishment, violence, or death if we continue to speak of risen life. However, because we are not afraid to suffer or die, we will say: "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight for us to obey you rather than God. Surely we cannot help speaking of what we have heard and seen" (Acts 4:19-20; see also Acts 5:29). Then we will have an even better opportunity to proclaim risen life since the threat of death will make our proclamation of life in Christ even more credible.
Thus, for us " 'life' means Christ; hence dying is so much gain" (Phil 1:21). "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (1 Cor 15:54-55) As witnesses for the risen Jesus, we are willing to "face death every day" (1 Cor 15:31). If we miraculously escape death, even more people will believe in the risen Christ. If we don't escape death, we will be raised from the dead. Therefore, witness for Jesus in the face of death and be raised by Jesus after death. Witness and rise!

Prayer: Father, may my attitude toward death surprise people and open them up to You.

Promise: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation." -Mk 16:15

Praise: Alleluia! "I will give thanks to You," Jesus, "for You...have been my Savior" (Ps 118:21). You are victorious over death!

(For a related teaching, order our tape "Evangelization" on audio AV 55-1 and AV 55-3 or video V-55.)

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Friday, April 13, 2012

ANOTHER "ANOTHER CHANCE" - One Bread, One Body, 4/13/2012

Friday, April 13, 2012, Easter Friday

Acts 4:1-12, Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22-27, John 21:1-14
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041312.cfm

ANOTHER "ANOTHER CHANCE"

"Simon Peter said to them, 'I am going out to fish.' 'We will join you,' they replied." -John 21:3

Jesus had called Simon Peter to quit fishing for fish and begin fishing for men and women (Mk 1:17). In other words, Jesus called Peter to follow Him and to evangelize. Peter did this for three years. However, after the risen Christ appeared to Peter three times (Lk 24:34; Jn 20:19, 26), Peter decided to forget Jesus' Resurrection, his three years with Jesus, and his calling by Jesus. Peter went back into the fishing business and led six other Christian leaders away from their calling as well (see Jn 21:2).
Jesus could have refused to give them another "another chance," but in His mercy He came to His "former" apostles, worked a miracle (Jn 21:6), and led them back into His kingdom. The risen Jesus continued to appear to them and gave them "another" outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (see Jn 20:22; Acts 2:3ff). Peter and the apostles were confirmed in their faith. The fearful and easily-manipulated Peter even stood up in a very intimidating situation and proclaimed to the Jewish religious leaders that they needed to repent and accept that Jesus' name is the only "name in the whole world given to men by which we are to be saved" (Acts 4:12).
If you and/or those you know are fallen-away, backsliding, or apostatizing, there is hope. The Lord is rich in mercy (Eph 2:4). The Holy Spirit will confirm us and make us holy. God wants to raise us from the death of sin into risen life in Christ. Repent. Go to Confession. Come back home.

Prayer: Father, may I go out of any business not in Your will for me.

Promise: "If we must answer today for a good deed done to a cripple and explain how he was restored to health, then you and all the people of Israel must realize that it was done in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean Whom you crucified and Whom God raised from the dead." -Acts 4:9-10

Praise: Praise You, risen Jesus! "The Stone Which the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone" (Ps 118:22). Alleluia!

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Thursday, April 12, 2012

GET REAL - One Bread, One Body, 4/12/2012

Thursday, April 12, 2012, Easter Thursday

Acts 3:11-26, Psalm 8:2, 5-9, Luke 24:35-48
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041212.cfm

GET REAL

"It is really I." -Luke 24:39

When the apostles saw the risen Christ on the evening of His Resurrection, "they thought they were seeing a ghost" (Lk 24:37). Jesus tried to prove He was real by showing them His hands and feet, inviting them to touch Him, and eating a piece of fish (Lk 24:39-43). Nonetheless, the risen Christ didn't seem real enough to cause them to overcome their fears and change their lives.
We too have difficulties getting in touch with the reality of the risen Christ because in many ways we don't face reality. For instance, millions deny the reality that pregnant women have babies in their wombs. They choose to pretend the baby is not a human being. Our culture seems to be one long series of attempts to escape from reality by using alcohol, drugs, TV, pornography, promiscuity, video games, computer games, mind-games, etc. We even have entertainment called "virtual reality," whereby one can create their own "reality." Denial, in the psychological sense of the word, permeates our society. We deny the existence of objective truth, sin, and responsibility for our actions. Many pretend that they'll live forever and never face Judgment Day.
In a world so out of touch with reality, it's understandable that the risen Christ may seem a ghost. We are just projecting our own unreality onto Him. The risen Jesus is definitely real, but are we? Have we consigned ourselves to a ghostly existence of selfishness, self-deception, and sin? When we "get real," we'll find out that Jesus has always been real. Get real.

Prayer: Father, I repent of living in a shadowy, ghostly tomb of sin. I repent to rise with Christ.

Promise: "When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him to you first to bless you by turning you from your evil ways." -Acts 3:26

Praise: Alleluia! "How glorious is Your name," risen Jesus, "over all the earth!" (Ps 8:2)

(For a related teaching, order our book, "Living in Reality", or our four-tape audio series starting with AV 38-1 or two-tape video series starting with V-38.)

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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

NEEDED: RISEN SIGHT - One Bread, One Body, 4/11/2012

We at Presentation Ministries wish you a very blessed and holy Easter. Praise Jesus our risen LORD!

Consider reading the whole New Testament during the 50 days of Easter.
http://www.presentationministries.com/brochures/NTEaster.asp
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Wednesday, April 11, 2012, Easter Wednesday

Acts 3:1-10, Psalm 105:1-4, 6-9, Luke 24:13-35
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041112.cfm

NEEDED: RISEN SIGHT

"They were restrained from recognizing Him." -Luke 24:16

Everyone recognized Lazarus when he emerged from his tomb after being dead four days (Jn 12:10-11). Yet Jesus was largely unrecognized when He emerged from His tomb on Easter morning (Lk 24:16, 37; Jn 20:15; 21:4). Jesus was "completely changed in appearance" (Mk 16:12).
One possible explanation for this is that Jesus didn't just enter the tomb as a dead man and then come back out again alive, as did Lazarus. Jesus journeyed through death to the other side, to risen life. Jesus was marvelously transformed (see 1 Cor 15:42-44). He entered death like a seed, and emerged like a tree, in risen form. He appears as a risen Man, in a transformed, resurrected body!
The disciples could no longer experience the life of Jesus that they had known before His crucifixion and death. Now Jesus' disciples, and all of us today, need to meet Jesus in His new, risen life. Jesus is risen! He is transformed. "The old order has passed away; now all is new!" (2 Cor 5:17)
Come to know Jesus risen. Ask Jesus to raise you up to meet Him in His risen glory. Renew your Baptism. Die with Christ and let His risen life flow through you. Know Jesus risen!

Prayer: Father, "I want to see" with risen eyes (Lk 18:41). "I wish to know Christ and the power flowing from His resurrection" (Phil 3:10).

Promise: "The Lord has been raised! It is true!" -Lk 24:34

Praise: Alleluia! "Give thanks to the Lord, invoke His name" (Ps 105:1). Praise Jesus, "the Resurrection and the Life" (Jn 11:25). Alleluia!

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.) (For a related teaching, order our Risen Life series of tapes starting with "Meeting the Risen Christ", a set of seven audio tapes starting with AV 4A-1 or a two-set series of video tapes starting with V-4A.)

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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

MY SWEET JESUS! - One Bread, One Body, 4/10/2012

We at Presentation Ministries wish you a very blessed and holy Easter. Praise Jesus our risen LORD!

Consider reading the whole New Testament during the 50 days of Easter.
http://www.presentationministries.com/brochures/NTEaster.asp
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Tuesday, April 10, 2012, Easter Tuesday

Acts 2:36-41, Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22, John 20:11-18
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041012.cfm

MY SWEET JESUS!

"I have seen the Lord!" -John 20:18

At a college "Encounter with Christ" retreat many years ago, I had a "Mary Magdalene" moment. The retreat director asked everyone to find a quiet location and spend an hour reading letters written to us by fellow students. I walked through the snow-covered woods to a secluded hilltop overlooking a frozen lake and sat atop a tree stump to read and pray. Each letter radiated encouragement, hopes, and prayers. The final letter ended with a Bible verse: "No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a bushel basket" (see Mt 5:15). When I read that verse, it was as though Jesus Himself jumped off the page, sat next to me, and spoke my name (Jn 20:16). Though the winter air was freezing cold, I felt nothing but warmth and the love of Jesus during that hour. In that moment, Jesus' love changed me profoundly and permanently. I was transformed from self-conscious to God-confident, from fearful to joyful. The Scriptures came alive and I was filled with the desire and resolve to attend daily Mass. With Mary Magdalene, I proclaimed: "I have seen the Lord!" (Jn 20:18)
A life-changing, personal encounter with the risen Jesus is absolutely critical. The risen Jesus is not bound by the laws of the natural world. He walks through locked doors (Jn 20:26), vanishes from human sight (Lk 24:31), and rises into the clouds (Acts 1:9). You might encounter the risen Jesus in the Eucharist, while reading the Bible, at a retreat, during prayer, in a traffic jam, while cooking, in the dark (Acts 18:9), or while traumatized by tragedy (Jn 20:15). Be constantly ready to encounter the risen Jesus every day. Let Him transform your life.

Prayer: "Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All..."

Promise: "You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." -Acts 2:38

Praise: Alleluia! Jesus is risen! "Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again. Rejoice!" (Phil 4:4)

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.) (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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Monday, April 9, 2012

LAY MINISTRY TO BISHOPS - One Bread, One Body, 4/9/2012

We at Presentation Ministries wish you a very blessed and holy Easter. Praise Jesus our risen LORD!

Consider reading the whole New Testament during the 50 days of Easter.
http://www.presentationministries.com/brochures/NTEaster.asp
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Monday, April 9, 2012, Easter Monday

Acts 2:14, 22-33, Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11, Matthew 28:8-15
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040912.cfm

LAY MINISTRY TO BISHOPS

"Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them." -Acts 2:14

On the very first resurrection day, the risen Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and sent her to bring the good news of His Resurrection to the apostles (Jn 20:17). He also came to Mary Magdalene when she was with another Mary (Mt 28:1). Once again, He sent them to the apostles (Mt 28:7, 10). Then Jesus appeared to Simon Peter (Lk 24:34) and to two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13ff). All of these took the Good News to the apostles (see Lk 24:33).
After sending all these messengers to the apostles, the risen Jesus Himself finally came to them repeatedly and commissioned them to be witnesses of His Resurrection (see Acts 1:22). Nevertheless, the apostles did not witness for the risen Christ but stayed locked up in the upper room (see Jn 20:26). Only after receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost did the apostles finally get the message of Jesus' Resurrection and proclaim that message (see Acts 2:14).
Although the Lord is working in several ways to announce His Resurrection, one of His main plans is to work through our bishops, who are the apostles' successors, and through our priests, who share in the bishops' ministry. Consequently, the Lord may want you to take a message to some of the bishops and priests. The Lord may be calling you to lead them to receive a new Pentecost. Pray for your bishop and priests. Then see if the Lord wants you to say or do anything else to empower them to serve as mighty witnesses for the risen Christ.

Prayer: Jesus, may Your disciples announce Your Resurrection to the bishops who will announce it to the Church and the world.

Promise: "You will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will You suffer Your faithful one to undergo corruption." -Ps 16:10

Praise: Alleluia! Jesus lives forever! Jesus raises the dead! Jesus is Lord. Alleluia!

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