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Thursday, August 12, 1999

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Joshua 3:7-10, 11, 13-17
Psalm 114
Matthew 18:21—19:1

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making a living?

"This is how you will know that there is a living God in your midst." —Joshua 3:10

Our God is living. He is present. He acts. He shows He is living by expressing His love for us in tangible ways. All other so-called gods are "the handiwork of men. They have mouths but speak not; they have eyes but see not; they have ears but hear not; they have noses but smell not; they have hands but feel not; they have feet but walk not; they utter no sound from their throat" (Ps 115:4-7).

For three days, it looked as if our God was dead. He was crucified and died. This seemed to prove that He was not God. However, He rose from the dead. This proves He is God. Jesus is "the Living One" in a totally unique way (see Lk 24:5). Jesus proclaims: "There is nothing to fear. I am the First and the Last and the One Who lives. Once I was dead but now I live — forever and ever" (Rv 1:17-18). The old hymn witnesses to this: "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone."

"It is true He was crucified out of weakness, but He lives by the power of God. We too are weak in Him, but we live with Him by God's power in us" (2 Cor 13:4). "If we have died with Him we shall also live with Him" (2 Tm 2:11). Live in Jesus, the living God, Who is Life Itself (Jn 14:6). Let Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit live in you (see Jn 17:23). Let God make a living in you.

Prayer:  Jesus, I will live no longer for myself but for You (see 2 Cor 5:15).

Promise:  "My heavenly Father will treat you in exactly the same way unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart." —Mt 18:35

Praise:  Ellen returned to regular Confession after an absence of more than ten years.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, February 22, 1999


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 24, 1999