Thursday, November 10, 2022, Pope St. Leo the Great

Philemon 7-20
Psalm 146:7-10
Luke 17:20-25
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CROSS-CULTURAL EVANGELIZATION
“I, Paul, ambassador of Christ and now a prisoner for Him, appeal to you for my child, whom I have begotten during my imprisonment.” —Philemon 9-10

Paul led Onesimus, a runaway slave and fellow prisoner, to the Lord (Phlm 10). Paul had also led Onesimus’ owner, Philemon, to the Lord (Phlm 19). Paul converted both slave and owner, both poor and rich. In his ministry of evangelization, Paul even did the unthinkable by converting both Jews and Gentiles.

Most people come to the Lord because of the witness of someone like them. It takes an amazing person to lead to the Lord people of different backgrounds. For example, most people who would identify with and have compassion for a runaway slave, don’t also relate to the slave-owner, or vice versa. It requires exceptional compassion to care about both the slave and the owner.

List the people you have been instrumental in leading to the Lord. If you observe significant differences in your converts’ ages, backgrounds, races, and economic status, then you have a love that covers a multitude of sins (1 Pt 4:8) and bridges the greatest gaps.

Evangelization is primarily a matter of deep love, and cross-cultural evangelization is a matter of even deeper love. May we love the lost more than we love ourselves. May we have a river of love so deep that it will cover not only those close and familiar to us, but also those far away and different from us.

Prayer: Father, may Your love impel me (2 Cor 5:14) to break new ground in sharing my faith.

Promise: “A time will come when you will long to see one day of the Son of Man but will not see it.” —Lk 17:22

Praise: Pope St. Leo the Great wrote: “In spite of the many parts of [Christ’s] holy body, the Church subsists as an integral Whole.”

(For a related teaching on Evangelism and Worship, view, download or order our leaflet on our website.)

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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 11, 2022, St. Martin of Tours

2 John 4-9
Psalm 119:1-2, 10-11, 17-18
Luke 17:26-37
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THE WORD ON OVERCOMING TEMPTATION
“Look out that you yourselves do not lose what you have worked for; you must receive your reward in full.” —2 John 8

Satan wants to keep people on the sideline and off the field of spiritual battle. If Satan cannot keep a Christian from entering the field of spiritual battle, his next tactic is to keep the Christian weak and defensive by constant accusations (Rv 12:10). He attempts to keep both Christians and non-Christians apathetic, fearful, paralyzed, distracted, and doubting.

However, one of Satan’s special opportunities is the occasion when a Christian achieves success in spiritual battle. Then the enemy will aim for a vicious takedown. When a powerful Christian falls, the evil one ensures much negative publicity, so that thousands of people will be tempted to turn away from the Lord and His Church.

God appreciates those who have labored long and hard for Him (see Heb 6:10). He does not want you to lose your reward; “you must receive your reward in full” (2 Jn 8). Satan aims to prevent that by pressing temptations upon you (see Mt 4:1ff). Thus, a verse from today’s psalm response is helpful: “Within my heart I treasure Your promise, that I may not sin against You” (Ps 119:11).

Therefore, read and treasure the Word of God each day (Ps 1:2; Acts 17:11). Store it in your heart and mind, then in time of temptation, the Holy Spirit can call to mind the Scripture verses stored in your heart to prevent you from succumbing to sin.

Prayer: Father, give me the constant grace I need to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus (Heb 12:2).

Promise: “Whoever tries to preserve his life will lose it; whoever loses it will keep it.” —Lk 17:33

Praise: Family circumstances forced St. Martin of Tours to join the Roman army while still a teen. However, Martin later clothed a beggar and encountered the risen Christ.

(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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JOHN 2, 13-22
Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
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“GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY” (1 Cor 6:20)
“He was talking about the temple of His body.” —John 2:21: THÂN THỂ CHÚA

Today’s feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome is a way of acknowledging that God dwells among His people (see Jn 1:14). This feast reminds us of the beauty of God, that all beauty is a means to glorify God. A Church building is likewise a beautiful, holy house and from it flows many graces to bless the people of God.

Today’s feast is also a reminder that God dwells in our own bodies (Jn 6:56; 17:23). We are to dedicate the temple of our body to God’s service, just like the Lateran Basilica is dedicated to God’s use. We dedicate our bodies to the Lord to glorify God in them (1 Cor 6:20), so that we may be beautiful, good, holy, and true, a pleasing dwelling place consecrated to God. May each of us likewise be united to God and each other in faith, forming a holy building founded on Christ (1 Cor 3:9-11). Let God make you a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19).

Prayer: Father, I offer my body to You to be dedicated to Your service (2 Tm 2:21; cf Rm 12:1).

Promise: “For the temple of God is holy, and you are that temple.” —1 Cor 3:17

Praise: A Latin inscription inside the Lateran Basilica in Rome, translated into English, means: “The mother and head of all churches of the city and of the world.”

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
(The annual Men’s Retreat is Dec. 2-3. Plan now to attend this always popular retreat. It is sure to inspire and renew you. Call 937-587-5464, 513-373-2397 or see presentationministries.com to register or for information.)


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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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