Monday, November 21, 2022, Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Revelation 14:1-5
Psalm 24:1-6
Luke 21:1-4: BÀ GÓA NÀY ĐÃ VÀO THÙNG TIỀN NHIỀU HƠN AI HẾT (CÂU 3)
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THE NEW SONG
“They were singing a new hymn before the throne, in the presence of the four living creatures and the elders. This hymn no one could learn except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been ransomed from the world.” —Revelation 14:3

Only those in heaven can sing the new song of the Lamb. Only those baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit can sing the new song (Mt 28:19). They alone sing the new song who are so immersed in the Holy Trinity that they are branded on their foreheads with the names of the Father and the Son (Rv 14:1). Only those begotten and owned by God sing the new song. They “are pure and follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (Rv 14:4).

To sing the new song means to live the new life in Christ, to love Him with all our hearts, and to “bless the Lord at all times” (Ps 34:2). To sing the new song means to be a people of praise because we are a people of love. To love and to praise the Lord means that we have been purified by obedience to the truth (1 Pt 1:22). This means we have been saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8) and have been created “to lead the life of good deeds which God prepared for us in advance” (Eph 2:10).

Forever sing the new song of salvation and live the new life of love, praise, purification, and obedience. By faith with good works (see Jas 2:21-22), accept the grace to sing the new song.

Prayer: Father, teach me how to praise You always and forever.

Promise: “This poor widow has put in more than all the rest. They make contributions out of their surplus, but she from her want has given what she could not afford — every penny she had to live on.” —Lk 21:3-4

Praise: Mary was presented to God in the Temple by her parents and she presents us, her children, to our Father.

(Today is our patronal feast. To learn more about The Presentation Story, view, download or order our booklet on our website.)

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Saturday, November 19, 2022,

Revelation 11:4-12
Psalm 144:1-2, 9-10
Luke 20:27-40: ĐỐI VỚI CHÚA, TẤT CẢ ĐỀU ĐANG SỐNG (CÂU 38)
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“BADLY MISLED”? (Mk 12:24)
“Moses in the passage about the bush showed that the dead rise again...” —Luke 20:37

It is possible to read Scripture for years and completely miss what the Word of God is saying. The Sadducees, who attempted to trap Jesus in today’s Gospel passage, were a strict sect of Judaism which accepted only the first five books of the Scriptures, called the Pentateuch. The Sadducees also “claim there is no resurrection” (Lk 20:27). Jesus in His wisdom used a Scripture passage from the few books the Sadducees did accept (Ex 3:6) to show that there is a resurrection (Lk 20:37).

The Sadducees, who had spent their lives reading the Pentateuch, never noticed this connection to eternal life and resurrection. So they steadfastly maintained that there was no resurrection. The Sadducees put their religious ideas first and attempted to make the Scriptures support their ideas. Jesus therefore told the Sadducees: “You are badly misled, because you fail to understand the Scriptures or the power of God...You are very much mistaken” (Mk 12:24, 27).

If we honestly seek the Lord, Jesus will open our minds to the understanding of the Scriptures (Lk 24:45). Are we open to God’s Word? Or do our ideas come first, and we thus pick and choose Bible verses to support them? If so, we may be in danger of being “badly misled” (Mk 12:24). Let the Living Word (Heb 4:12-13) speak to you. Allow God’s Word to form your mind.

Prayer: Father, transform me through the renewal of my mind (Rm 12:2). Each day, give me open, obedient ears to hear and understand Your Word (Ps 40:7).

Promise: “Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, Who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.” —Ps 144:1

Praise: Jack shares the story of his conversion from atheist to Christian minister with nationwide audiences in order to make known the realities of heaven and hell.

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

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TIN MỪNG LUCA : 25: 35-43
Psalm 122:1-5
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THE CRUCIFIX AND THE KING
“There was an inscription over His head: ‘THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.’ ” —Luke 23:38

Many people have crucifixes on their walls, in their pockets, in their purses, or around their necks. Usually at the top of this crucifix are the letters I. N. R. I. This stands for “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” On Calvary, hardly anyone believed this inscription. In fact, “the chief priests of the Jews tried to tell Pilate...‘This man claimed to be King of the Jews’ ” (Jn 19:21).

What about you? Do you believe the letters on your crucifix? Or are the letters I.N.R.I. just an inscription to which you’ve never paid any attention? If you decide to take your crucifix seriously and be a faithful subject of King Jesus, you must:

• be rescued “from the power of darkness” (Col 1:13),
• repent,
• contradict leaders, soldiers, criminals, and the many people who continue to mock His kingship (Lk 23:35, 36, 39),
• be willing to be persecuted,
• worship King Jesus, for He is the King of kings (Rv 19:16) and God Himself, and
• tell everyone about the perfect King, Who is God and Love (see 1 Jn 4:16).

Are you willing to accept Jesus as your King? If so, kneel down before Him now and give Your most precious gifts to Him (see Mt 2:11). Give your whole life to King Jesus. Start talking to Jesus. Ask Him to show you Who He is. Begin to repent. Keep talking to Jesus until you can again honestly see or carry a crucifix not out of habit but out of love.

Prayer: King Jesus, I bend my knee and will to Your will and kingdom (see Phil 2:10).

Promise: “In [Jesus] everything continues in being.” —Col 1:17

Praise: “Sing praise to God, sing praise; Sing praise to our King, sing praise. For King of all the earth is God; sing hymns of praise” (Ps 47:7-8, NAB).



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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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Friday, November 18, 2022, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
Dedication of the Churches of Sts. Peter & Paul

Sts. Peter & Paul
Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131
Luke 19:45-48: CHÚA GIẢNG DẠY TẠI ĐỀN THỜ
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HANGING ON
Jesus “was teaching in the temple area from day to day. The chief priests and scribes meanwhile were looking for a way to destroy Him, as were the leaders of the people, but they had no idea how to achieve it, for indeed the entire populace was listening to Him and hanging on His words.” —Luke 19:47-48

Jesus was teaching in the temple area each day, even at the risk of His life (Lk 19:47). The people found His teaching sweet to their taste (see Rv 10:9-10). They were hanging on His words (Lk 19:48); to them, His words tasted sweeter than honey from the comb (Ps 119:103).

The fact that the people were hanging on Jesus’ words basically guaranteed that Jesus would likewise soon be hanging, nailed to a cross. If the people did not pay attention to Jesus’ teaching, the chief priests and scribes and the leaders of the people (Lk 19:47) would not have been jealous of Jesus and would possibly have left Him alone.

This is the consequence of the sweetness of the Word of God: it will turn sour in the stomach of those who proclaim it (Rv 10:9) — the sour taste of persecution that comes with being faithful to sharing the Word of God (Ez 3:1-4; Rv 10:9-10). Nevertheless, hang on to the promises of God. Feed God’s people by teaching them His Word (Jn 21:15-17).

Prayer: Father, I will consume the scroll of Your Word. Make me a servant of Your Word, no matter the cost.

Promise: “The law of Your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” —Ps 119:72

Praise: “The law of Your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” —Ps 119:72

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

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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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