March 11 - One Bread, One Body
March 11, Fourth Sunday of Lent
Cycle B Readings:
1) 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23
Psalm 137:1-6
2) Ephesians 2:4-10
Gospel) John 3:14-21
Have you, are you, and will you be saved?
"God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." — John 3:17
We are saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8). Jesus saved us especially by the grace of His death and resurrection. We are being saved by this good news "at this very moment" if we "hold fast to it" (1 Cor 15:2). Yet salvation is not only a past and present reality, it is future. "For if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Rm 10:9). The one who believes in the gospel "and accepts baptism will be saved" (Mk 16:16). Thus, if we have been baptized into Jesus and into His resurrection, we have been saved (see Rm 6:3ff). We are being saved at this moment, if we are being faithful to our baptismal promises. We will be saved from sin, death, hell, and Satan and saved for final victory, perfect love, heavenly peace, and eternal life, if we continue to live our Baptisms by resisting temptations, repenting from our sins, and obeying the Lord in all things.
In three weeks, we will celebrate the first day of the Easter season. At every Mass in every Catholic church in the world, we will be invited to renew our baptismal promises. At that time, make the deepest act of faith you have ever made. Give your life totally to Jesus. Be saved!
Prayer: Father, I accept salvation on Your terms.
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
Praise: Praise the crucified and risen Jesus, Healer of the blind and "the Light of the world!" (Jn 9:5)
Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Imprimatur ("Permission to Publish") for One Bread, One Body covering the period from February 1, 2018 through March 31, 2018.
†Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, May 10, 2017.
The Imprimatur ("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 Imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.