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)
View Readings

“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.)

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

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, November 17, 2022, St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Revelation 5:1-10
Psalm 149:1-6,
Luke 19:41-44: NGƯƠI ĐÃ KHÔNG NHẬN BIẾT THỜI GIỜ CHÚA VIẾNG THĂM
View Readings

SOUNDING, SMELLING, AND FLYING PRAYERS
“Along with their harps, the elders were holding vessels of gold filled with aromatic spices, which were the prayers of God’s holy people.” —Revelation 5:8

John called the prayers of God’s people “aromatic spices,” that is, incense. Figuratively speaking, our prayers have a pleasing smell, are surrounded by others’ prayers, and rise to God. Our prayers sound, smell, and move. Moreover, our prayers are contained in “vessels of gold” (Rv 5:8). Because what a container holds is usually more valuable than the container, our prayers are said to be more valuable than golden vessels.

Our precious prayers are held by the elders, that is, the leaders of the Church, who have fallen down in adoration before Jesus, the Lamb (Rv 5:8). Our prayers are in the context of submission to the Church, which is in submission to Jesus. The elders of the Church are holding our prayers in one hand and holding harps in the other (Rv 5:8). This shows that our prayers are always in the context of the heavenly praises.  We are all members of the communion of saints.

When we understand the context of prayer, when we see prayer in all its heavenly glory, we come to the conclusion that there is “the necessity of praying always and not losing heart” (Lk 18:1). Pray!

Prayer: Father, send the Holy Spirit to help me to pray in my weakness (Rm 8:26).

Promise: “Sing to the Lord a new song of praise in the assembly of the faithful.” —Ps 149:1

Praise: St. Elizabeth had such great love for the poor and suffering that she is the patron saint of Catholic Charities and the Secular Franciscan Order.

(For a related teaching on Lord, Teach Us to Pray, listen to, download or order our CD 57-3 or DVD 57 on our website.)

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


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

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

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
View Readings

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.)

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


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

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

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

Wednesday, November 16, 2022, St. Margaret of Scotland
St. Gertrude the Great

Revelation 4:1-11
Psalm 150:1-6
Luke 19:11-28
View Readings

SERVE THE KING OF KINGS
“We will not have this man rule over us.” —Luke 19:14

The evil in the world is so massively powerful and well-funded that despair and discouragement are natural reactions. Worldly people hate the Lord and will not accept His kingdom in secular society (Jn 15:18ff). They oppose the Kingdom of God with all their strength.

In today’s Gospel parable, Jesus proclaims that He understands this worldly opposition, prophesied by Simeon while He was just a Baby (Lk 2:34). This coming Sunday is the Feast of “Christ the King, Lord of the Universe.” If King Jesus chose, He could crush evil underfoot in a moment. Yet when Jesus had that chance, He did not crush evil in worldly strength (Jn 18:36). Rather, Jesus crushed evil in the ultimate spiritual war; He destroyed the devil’s works (1 Jn 3:8).

Jesus said: “It is much better for you that I go” (Jn 16:7). Mysteriously, where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more (see Rm 5:20). Allow King Jesus to reign over you as He sees fit. Serve King Jesus faithfully and with confidence.

Prayer: King Jesus, we do want You to rule over us. “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:10).

Promise: “O Lord our God, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power! For You have created all things; by Your will they came to be and were made!” —Rv 4:11

Praise: “She was an exceptional woman, endowed with special natural talents and extraordinary gifts of grace” (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, commenting on St. Gertrude the Great, October 6, 2010).

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
(Men! The annual retreat for you is coming up Dec. 2-3 at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Discipleship Center in Adams Co. Ohio. Call 513-373-2397 or see www.presentationministries.com for information or to register.)

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

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

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