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Monday, September 24, 2001

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Ezra 1:1-6
Psalm 126
Luke 8:16-18

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he does the impossible

"In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia..." —Ezra 1:1

Who would have ever dreamed that the Lord would send a Persian king to free the Jewish people from slavery and to fund the rebuilding of the Temple? This was unthinkable. "Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor 2:9). The fact that the Lord did this shows that "nothing is impossible with God" (Lk 1:37).

"When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. Then they said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things for them.' The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad indeed" (Ps 126:1-3). "What shall we say after that? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rm 8:31) Because the Lord freed His people from exile in Babylon and because He continues to do even greater works, we who live in Him "are more than conquerors" (Rm 8:37). We have good reason to be filled with hope and joy. Because our Lord is all-powerful and all-loving, "there is cause for rejoicing here" (1 Pt 1:6). Jesus is Lord! "Rejoice with inexpressible joy touched with glory" (1 Pt 1:8).

Prayer:  Father, send the Holy Spirit to teach me to rest securely in Your love and power.

Promise:  "Take heed, therefore, how you hear: to the man who has, more will be given; and he who has not, will lose even the little he thinks he has." —Lk 8:18

Praise:  For over twenty years, Denise prayed for her alcoholic husband. God did the impossible and led him to sobriety.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, February 13, 2001


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 20, 2001