--

Wednesday, October 19, 2022 , St. Isaac Jogues,
St. John de Brébeuf & Companions

Ephesians 3:2-12
Isaiah 12:2-6
Luke 12:39-48
View Readings

EVER VERY READY
“You know as well as I that if the head of the house knew when the thief was coming he would not let him break into his house. Be on guard, therefore.” —Luke 12:39-40

People install locks on their doors and windows. They have fences, guard dogs, and security systems because of the possibility that someone might break into their houses. What if you knew exactly when someone would break into your house? Would you be ready for him? That is how ready we must be for Jesus’ return. Moreover, we must be this ready all the time, for He will come when we “least expect Him” (Lk 12:40).

To be always very ready for Jesus’ return, we must be “faithful, farsighted” servants of Jesus, busy working to dispense rations of “grain in season” (Lk 12:42); that is, feeding people physically and especially spiritually. “Not on bread alone is man to live but on every utterance that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4). May Jesus find us at His return feeding people with His Word because we always feed people with His Word.

This book, One Bread, One Body, is a “square meal” spiritually. It contains spiritual food. Share what you receive from reading this book, especially from reading the Scriptures quoted or referred to in this book. Dispense the ration of grain. Jesus is coming soon. He may be coming now. Dispense the ration of grain.

Prayer: Father, I love Jesus so I will feed His sheep (Jn 21:17).

Promise: “In Christ and through faith in Him we can speak freely to God, drawing near Him with confidence.” —Eph 3:12

Praise: St. Isaac Jogues, St. John de Brébeuf, St. Anthony Daniel, St. Charles Garnier, St. Noel Chabanel, St. Gabriel Lalemant, St. René Goupil, and St. Jean de Lalande were the first officially recognized martyrs of the North American continent. The Church in North America came to birth from the blood of martyrs.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, October 20, 2022, St. Paul of the Cross

Ephesians 3:14-21
Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19
Luke 12:49-53
View Readings

THE DESIRES OF THE HEART
“I have come to light a fire on the earth. How I wish the blaze were ignited!” —Luke 12:49

Jesus wants to light a fire on the earth. He wants to save and purify us by giving us a new nature (see Eph 4:24). He wants to be Lord of our lives, baptize us in the Spirit, and lead us to the Father. These are the desires of Jesus’ heart.

What are the desires of your heart? Do you want what Jesus wants? Even if you have Jesus’ desires and priorities, how much do you want His will to be done and His kingdom to come? Do you feel anguish until all are saved? (Lk 12:50) Is your heart moved with pity at the sight of humanity? (Mt 9:36) Will you do anything to win to Jesus as many as possible? (1 Cor 9:19) Do you have a daily tension, an anxiety for all the churches? (2 Cor 11:28) Is your heart broken for the same reason as was Jesus’ heart? Is your prayer the same as His? Do you want what He wants as much as He wants it?

If you receive the desires of your heart, this will be a curse rather than a blessing unless the desires of your heart are the desires of Jesus’ heart.

Prayer: Jesus, may I love You so much that my desires become like Yours.

Promise: “To Him Whose power now at work in us can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine — to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus.” —Eph 3:20-21

Praise: St. Paul of the Cross founded the “Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ.” They are commonly known as the Passionists.

(We offer a Married Couples Retreat, Nov. 11-12. Sharing your faith with your spouse is a great blessing to your family. Come away for a while and nourish your faith with other believers. Call 513-373-2397 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)

-----------------------------------------------------------------


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

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, October 17, 2022, St. Ignatius of Antioch

Ephesians 2:1-10
Psalm 100:1-5
Luke 12:13-21
View Readings

ARE YOU LIVING BELOW YOUR DIGNITY?
“ ‘Then I will say to myself: You have blessings in reserve for years to come. Relax! Eat heartily, drink well. Enjoy yourself.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool!’ ” —Luke 12:19-20

Although we were created to know, love, and serve God, we naturally tend to live “at the level of the flesh, following every whim and fancy” (Eph 2:3). Human beings tend to live like animals, whose only purpose in life is to fulfill their bodily needs. This way of life is below our human dignity. It is natural to relax, eat heartily, drink well, and enjoy ourselves (see Lk 12:19). To make this the meaning of life, however, is to deny that:

• We are made in the image and likeness of God (Gn 1:26-27).
• God has exalted human dignity by becoming a man (see Jn 1:14).
• God lives in us and we in God (see Jn 17:21).
• We have been bought at the price of Jesus’ blood (see 1 Cor 6:20).
• We are destined to see God face to face and live with Him forever (see 1 Cor 13:12).

Therefore, don’t compromise your human and Christian dignity in order to maximize your pleasure. You are saved, holy, royal, priestly, and precious (see 1 Pt 2:9). Live in the dignity of an adopted child of God, sharing in the divine nature (2 Pt 1:4).  “Christian, recognize your dignity and, now that you share in God’s own nature, do not return to your former base condition by sinning. Remember Who is your Head and of Whose body you are a member” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1691).

Prayer: Father, may I never live below my dignity.

Promise: “God is rich in mercy; because of His great love for us He brought us to life with Christ when we were dead in sin.” —Eph 2:4-5

Praise: Born in Syria, St. Ignatius of Antioch converted to Christianity and became Bishop of Antioch. Rather than deny Christ, he bravely faced the lions in the Circus Maximus.



-----------------------------------------------------------------


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

-----------------------------------------------------------------