March 3 - One Bread, One Body

March 3,  Eighth Sunday Ordinary Time  

Cycle C Readings:
1) Sirach 27:4-7
Psalm 92:2-3, 13-16
2) 1 Corinthians 15:54-58
Gospel) Luke 6:39-45

Mighty mouth 

"Praise no man before he speaks, for it is then that men are tested. " —  Sirach 27:7

When we open our mouths and speak, we open our inner selves and reveal publicly:

• our "heart's abundance" (Lk 6:45),
• our faults and sins (Sir 27:4), and
• the bent of our minds (Sir 27:6).

Therefore,

• be "slow to speak" (Jas 1:19),
• don't talk too much (Prv 10:19), and
• "let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear" (Eph 4:29, RSV-CE).

"All of us fall short in many respects. If a person is without fault in speech he is a man in the fullest sense, because he can control his entire body" (Jas 3:2). This coming Lent, let Jesus be Lord of your mouth, the Holy Spirit purify your tongue, and the Father be glorified by your every word.

Prayer: Father, I will open my mouth for You to fill it (see Ps 81:11).

Promise: "You know that your toil is not in vain when it is done in the Lord." —1 Cor 15:58

Praise: Alleluia! Jesus is risen! He will raise us from the dead if we believe in Him (Jn 11:26). Alleluia!

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, 2019 through March 31, 2019.

†Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 24, 2018.

The Nihil Obstat ("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 Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.