September 8 - One Bread, One Body
September 8, Twenty-Third Sunday Ordinary Time
Cycle C Readings:
1) Wisdom 9:13-18
Psalm 90:3-6, 12-17
2) Philemon 9:10, 12-17
Gospel) Luke 14:25-33
The consequences of lukewarm Christianity
"If one of you decides to build a tower, will he not first sit and calculate the outlay to see if he has enough money to complete the project?" — Luke 14:28
To be disciples of Christ, we must make the radical decision of totally giving ourselves to the Lord. If we decide to do anything less, our Christian lives will be unfinished, and we will be ridiculed and defeated (Lk 14:29ff).
Some Christians in the USA have not made a total commitment to Christ. So they, especially Catholic Christians, are repeatedly portrayed as fools by the media. Moreover, one of the most important works of most Christians is to make disciples of their children. Countless Christian parents have not finished this work, for their adult children are not committed to the Lord. They have been defeated by the world, the flesh, and the devil, and their children are the major casualties of this war.
We have ample evidence of the dire consequences of making less than a total commitment to the Lord. Yet "the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans" (Wis 9:14). We need the "Holy Spirit from on high" (Wis 9:17) to confirm us in faith so that we will decide to live for the Lord totally and radically. Come, Holy Spirit!
Prayer: Father, I repent of giving You anything less than everything.
Promise: Father, I repent of giving You anything less than everything.
Praise: All praise and all thanksgiving be to You, risen Lord Jesus. By your death and resurrection, You have saved the world. 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 August 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019.
†Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 15, 2019.
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.