“DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE” - One Bread, One Body, 04/08/2022

Friday, April 8, 2022,

Jeremiah 20:10-13
Psalm 18:2-7
John 10:31-42
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"DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE"
"In that place, many came to believe in Him." —John 10:42

In the temple, at Solomon’s Portico, Jesus was rejected. Many people reached for rocks to stone Him (Jn 10:31). They also tried to arrest Him (Jn 10:39). Jesus “eluded their grasp” and “went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier” (Jn 10:39-40). “In that place, many came to believe in Him” (Jn 10:42).

Why was Jesus not accepted in the holy place, the temple, but believed in “down by the riverside”? It was because St. John the Baptizer had been administering his baptism of repentance “down by the riverside.” Wherever there is repentance, there is faith. Where there is no repentance, Jesus is rejected and His Church persecuted.

If we have had a Lent of repentance, then we will have an Easter of faith. If our Lent is lacking repentance, however, our Easter will not be pleasing to God. We will even be used consciously or unconsciously to hinder God’s work. Therefore, we must repent. Even if we have let sin blind us to our need for repentance, we must ask the Lord to break through our spiritual blindness, convict us of our sins, and empower us to repent.

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:15 RSV-CE).

Prayer: Father, immerse me in repentance (Mk 1:4).

Promise: "Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for He has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!" —Jer 20:13

Praise: After years without going to Confession, Thomas repented and now is grateful for monthly Confession.

(For a related teaching on The Necessity of Confession, listen to, download or order our CD 70-1 or DVD 70 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 April 1, 2022 through May 31, 2022. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio August 3, 2021"

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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I AM WHO AM AND WHO I AM - One Bread, One Body, 04/07/2022

Thursday, April 7, 2022, St. John Baptist de la Salle

Genesis 17:3-9
Psalm 105:4-9
John 8:51-59
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I AM WHO AM AND WHO I AM
"Whom do You make Yourself out to be?" —John 8:53

Lent is an opportunity to discover who we are in Christ.  As a result of this Lent, we should be able to answer the question, “Who am I?” First, we must meet I AM WHO AM before we know who we are. That’s how Abraham knew he was to be the father of many nations (Gn 17:5). He first met Yahweh, the great I AM (Gn 15:7). Likewise, Moses realized his identity after meeting I AM in the burning bush (Ex 3:14).

Jesus said, “You will surely die in your sins unless you come to believe that I AM” (Jn 8:24). “When you lift up the Son of Man, you will come to realize that I AM” (Jn 8:28). “I solemnly declare it: before Abraham came to be, I AM” (Jn 8:58).

We can either bow down before the Lord in worship, forget about ourselves, and paradoxically find ourselves; or we can focus on ourselves and lose ourselves (Lk 9:24). Who we are is always found in I AM WHO AM.

Prayer: Lord, may I fall on my knees at this moment to worship You, the great I AM.

Promise: "I solemnly assure you, if a man is true to My word he shall never see death." —Jn 8:51

Praise: St. John Baptist de la Salle founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. The institute focused on educating the poor and today it has a worldwide reach. In 1950, Pope Pius XII named St. John patron of schoolteachers for his efforts in upgrading school instruction.

(For more teachings by the great I AM, read the Bible daily. For encouragement, listen to, download or order Ignorance of Scriptures is Ignorance of Christ, on CD 82-1 or DVD 82, or How to Pray the Bible, on CD 82-3 or DVD 82 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 April 1, 2022 through May 31, 2022. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio August 3, 2021"

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 GREATEST ACT OF FAITH - One Bread, One Body, 04/06/2022

Wednesday, April 6, 2022,

Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95
Daniel 3:52-56
John 8:31-42
View Readings

THE GREATEST ACT OF FAITH
"Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Who sent His angel to deliver the servants that trusted in Him." —Daniel 3:95

In eleven days, the Lord will call us to renew our baptismal promises. In every Catholic church in the world, at every Mass on Easter Sunday, the Lord will challenge us to answer “I do” to six questions. If God has His way, this will be the greatest act of faith we have ever made in our lives. Even if we have totally committed our lives to the Lord previously, He is not calling us to rerun the past. After all the love the Lord has poured out on us since last Easter, we should have a deeper, stronger faith than ever before.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego made the greatest act of faith in their lives when they refused to worship the golden statue and were thrown into the fiery furnace (Dn 3:12ff). This Easter Sunday we also can make the greatest act of faith in our lives. Jesus is preparing us for this great event by speaking His Word to us, for faith comes through hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Rm 10:17). The Holy Spirit is working to produce the gift and fruit of faith in us (1 Cor 12:9; Gal 5:22) by convicting us of our sins (Jn 16:8). Our heavenly Father is loving us into a deeper faith by faithfully providing for our basic needs. If we let God work, He will produce a masterpiece of faith this Easter.

Prayer: Father, may I let You father me. May I not try to control, insure, or protect my life.

Promise: "If you live according to My teaching, you are truly My disciples; then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." —Jn 8:31-32

Praise: "My trust is in You, O Lord; I say, 'You are my God' " (Ps 31:15).

(For a related teaching on Do You Renounce Satan?, view, order or download our leaflet or listen to, order or download our CD 44-1 or DVD 44 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 April 1, 2022 through May 31, 2022. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio August 3, 2021"

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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EVANGELIZATION AND LENT - One Bread, One Body, 04/05/2022

For a limited time, we have many extra Easter (April-May) English and Spanish OBOB books available to share with others in your parishes, laundry-mats, or nursing homes. For getting extra OBOB books in English, please call (513) 662-5378 and request the number of books you want along with the name and address for sending.
For getting extra OBOB books in Spanish, please call (513) 296-1380 or email jerrycappel@fuse.net with your book request. May God bless your efforts to evangelize!

Tuesday, April 5, 2022, St. Vincent Ferrer

Numbers 21:4-9
Psalm 102:2-3, 16-21
John 8:21-30
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EVANGELIZATION AND LENT
"Because He spoke this way, many came to believe in Him." —John 8:30

Jesus told people they would die in their sins unless they believed that He was God (Jn 8:24). Like the Israelites who were bitten by the saraph serpents, humanity is sentenced to death and damnation unless it looks at Jesus with faith (see Nm 21:8; Jn 3:14). People desperately need to know and love Jesus.

Although the greatest need of every person is to believe in Jesus and although He commanded us to be His witnesses, many Christians don’t share their faith in Jesus with others. One of the main purposes of this Lent is to change that. Lent is the imitation of Jesus when He was led by the Spirit into the desert to fast for forty days and overcome the temptations of the evil one. When Jesus emerged from that desert, He “returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee” (Lk 4:14), where He proclaimed the Good News of redemption (see Lk 4:18).

In imitation of Jesus, we should emerge from the Lenten desert and proclaim the Good News of life in Jesus. We should acknowledge that our refusal to evangelize is sinful. We should repent, go to Confession, and share our faith. We should ask others to pray that the obstacles to evangelization in our lives be removed. We exist to evangelize (Evangelization in the Modern World, Pope St. Paul VI, 14). Our Lenten repentance must result in Easter evangelization.

Prayer: Father, may I evangelize as if I had seen with my own eyes Jesus' death on the cross.

Promise: "Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he recovered." —Nm 21:9

Praise: St. Vincent Ferrer lived during difficult times. There were multiple claims to the papacy. Vincent encouraged healing of the papal schism. He preached the Good News throughout Western Europe and God worked many miracles through his ministry.



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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 April 1, 2022 through May 31, 2022. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio August 3, 2021"

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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BOOK OF PSALMS? - One Bread, One Body, 04/04/2022

For a limited time, we have many extra Easter (April-May) English and Spanish OBOB books available to share with others in your parishes, laundry-mats, or nursing homes. For getting extra OBOB books in English, please call (513) 662-5378 and request the number of books you want along with the name and address for sending.
For getting extra OBOB books in Spanish, please call (513) 296-1380 or email jerrycappel@fuse.net with your book request. May God bless your efforts to evangelize!

Monday, April 4, 2022, St. Isidore of Seville

Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62
Psalm 23:1-6
John 8:12-20
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BOOK OF PSALMS?
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." ––Psalm 23:1

Many people reading this are Catholic. We tend to think of Bible passages in terms of a Sunday Mass. We focus on the first reading, which is generally from the Old Testament. Next, we think about the second reading. It’s often an exhortation from St. Paul. The Liturgy of the Word reaches its high point with the Gospel proclamation (see Mk 13:10). But there’s an important collection of verses tucked between the first and second readings. Do we give equal attention to the Psalm? It can be overlooked.

Catholic monks take a different approach. The Psalms form the heart of their communal prayer life. Many monasteries pray and sing all 150 Psalms each week. This practice has remained consistent for centuries. Why? Even though many passages are attributed to King David or his scribes, monks recognize Jesus as the inspiration and subject of the Psalms. In fact, David calls Jesus his Lord: “The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand till I make Your enemies Your footstool’ ” (Ps 110:1; see Mt 22:41-45; cf Rv 22:16). Examine the Psalms and you’ll find suffering (Ps 31:10-14), glory (Ps 24:7-10), distress (Ps 102:3, 5) and joy (Ps 33:1, 3). You’ll see Jesus through and through.

Today’s Psalm may be the most familiar. Countless souls have found comfort in the 23rd Psalm’s inspired verses. How will it encourage you? Study, pray, sing, and live the Psalms.

Prayer: Father, challenge and console me as I study the Book of Psalms.

Promise: "Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for You are at my side with Your rod and Your staff that give me courage." ––Ps 23:4

Praise: St. Isidore craved knowledge. He authored an encyclopedia that was used as a textbook for nine centuries! Pope St. John Paul II declared him patron of the internet in 1997.

(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 April 1, 2022 through May 31, 2022. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio August 3, 2021"

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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KNOWLEDGE-ABLE - One Bread, One Body, 04/03/2022

For a limited time, we have many extra Easter (April-May) English and Spanish OBOB books available to share with others in your parishes, laundry-mats, or nursing homes. For getting extra OBOB books in English, please call (513) 662-5378 and request the number of books you want along with the name and address for sending.
For getting extra OBOB books in Spanish, please call (513) 296-1380 or email jerrycappel@fuse.net with your book request. May God bless your efforts to evangelize!

Sunday, April 3, 2022, Fifth Sunday of Lent

Isaiah 43:16-21
Philippians 3:8-14
Psalm 126:1-6
John 8:1-11

View Readings

KNOWLEDGE-ABLE
"I have come to rate all as loss in the light of the surpassing knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ." —Philippians 3:8

Because of Paul’s “surpassing knowledge” of Jesus, he came to rate all as loss. Paul’s personal relationship with Jesus changed the “ratings” in his life. Things he used to rate high were reassessed as worthless and empty.

All of us have a “surpassing knowledge.” Usually, our knowledge of and attraction to pleasure surpasses all else. For many people, even Christians, food, entertainment, TV programs, money, or lifestyle rate the highest. These surpass everything else.

Eventually, we experience a “surpassing knowledge” of tragedy and/or death. This changes our ratings. In the face of death, we now rate as loss those things for which we formerly lived. We feel so empty and regret that we’ve wasted our lives. We feel condemned by the vain, empty priorities of our past life.

However, the surpassing knowledge of tragedy and/or death, which surpassed our preoccupation with pleasure, can itself be surpassed by the personal knowledge of Jesus. When we totally give our lives to Jesus, we no longer stand condemned by the empty priorities of our past (see Rm 8:1). These vanities and regrets all disappear (see Jn 8:10). We give “no thought to what lies behind but push on to what is ahead” (Phil 3:13). Life in Christ is not merely meaningless stimulation but real excitement. Because of our knowledge of Jesus, life is a race, not a drag (see Phil 3:12). Live in the light of the surpassing knowledge of Jesus.

Prayer: Father, "I wish to know Christ" (Phil 3:10).

Promise: "See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" —Is 43:19

Praise: "But Your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise; awake and sing, you who lie in the dust" (Is 26:19). Praise the risen Jesus!

(The Lord is with you in all battles of life. Join us for the Spiritual Warfare: The Battle Belongs to the Lord retreat April 8-10. Call 513-373-2397 or e-mail retreats@presentationministries.com.)

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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 April 1, 2022 through May 31, 2022. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio August 3, 2021"

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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Copyright © Presentation Ministries

To add your e-mail address to this list go to https://www.presentationministries.com/subscribe/email

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JESUS, THE “HOME-MAKER” - One Bread, One Body, 04/02/2022

For a limited time, we have many extra Easter (April-May) English and Spanish OBOB books available to share with others in your parishes, laundry-mats, or nursing homes. For getting extra OBOB books in English, please call (513) 662-5378 and request the number of books you want along with the name and address for sending.
For getting extra OBOB books in Spanish, please call (513) 296-1380 or email jerrycappel@fuse.net with your book request. May God bless your efforts to evangelize!

Saturday, April 2, 2022, St. Francis of Paola

Jeremiah 11:18-20
Psalm 7:2-3, 9-12
John 7:40-53
View Readings

JESUS, THE "HOME-MAKER"
"Then each went off to his own house." —John 7:53

Zacchaeus encountered Jesus and opened his house to Him. That day, salvation came to his house (Lk 19:9). A royal official encountered the Lord, and Jesus promised to heal his son. “Jesus told him, ‘Return home’ ” (Jn 4:50). The royal official’s son was healed and his entire household “became believers” (Jn 4:53).  A demon-possessed man met Jesus and was set free. He wanted to follow Jesus, but Jesus “told him instead: ‘Go home’ ” (Mk 5:19). The man told his family of the mercy of Jesus and all were amazed (Mk 5:20). For these people, Jesus was a home-maker.

The Jewish leaders of Jerusalem also encountered Jesus. They scorned Him and returned home (Jn 7:53). Sadly, they missed the time of their visitation and lost the path to peace for their homes (Lk 19:42-44). Within forty years, their homes were totally destroyed by the Romans (Lk 19:44). The people of the towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida encountered Jesus and saw first-hand His miracles. However, they didn’t take Jesus into their homes. As Jesus prophesied, their homes were utterly destroyed (Mt 11:20-24).

Bring Jesus into your home today. Give Him control of everything that takes place in your home. As Jesus takes charge of home repair, He may find it necessary to rip out some deteriorated or warped areas (see Lk 12:51-53). Yet Jesus is the “Restorer of ruined homesteads” (Is 58:12) and He tears down only to speed up the ultimate purpose of home restoration. Make Jesus the Lord of your home. Then your home will be so strong and united that it will survive even the worst trials (Mt 7:24-25).

Prayer: Father, use my home as a launching pad for the spread of the Gospel.

Promise: "A Shield before me is God, Who saves the upright of heart." —Ps 7:11

Praise: St. Francis advised: "Look after your spiritual well-being with judicious concern. Death is certain; life is short."

(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 April 1, 2022 through May 31, 2022. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio August 3, 2021"

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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Copyright © Presentation Ministries

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