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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

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Isaiah 55:10-11
Psalm 34:4-7, 16-19
Matthew 6:7-15

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"if i had a hammer"

"[My word] shall not return to Me void, but shall do My will, achieving the end for which I sent it." —Isaiah 55:11

Many pray the rosary regularly in front of abortion mills. The rosary is a Scriptural prayer from today's Gospel reading (Mt 6:9-13) and also from Luke 1:42. As these intercessors pray the Word of God, they wield His Word like a weapon. In Cincinnati, the long-term faithful prayers of these prayer-warriors has resulted in the closing of one abortion mill on several Saturdays each month.

God's Word is a means to victory. Jesus used God's Word to defeat the devil in the desert (Mt 4:4, 7, 10). "Is not My word like fire, says the Lord, like a hammer shattering rocks?" (Jer 23:29) "Indeed, God's word is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword" (Heb 4:12). The Word of God gets the job done; it always achieves His purpose (Is 55:11). God's Word can't be stopped (2 Tm 2:9; Mk 4:26-29).

One of the purposes of this booklet, One Bread, One Body, is to teach and encourage Catholics, and anyone else, to read, pray, study, live, teach, and wield God's Word for victory, particularly in the context of Holy Mass. You are disciples of Jesus, the Word (Jn 1:1, 14). Therefore, "speak God's word with confidence" (Acts 4:31). "Spread" the Word of God "with influence and power" (Acts 19:20).

Prayer:  Jesus, I dedicate myself to sowing Your Word (Mk 4:3ff).

Promise:  "Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." —Mt 6:8

Praise:  Rick teaches his students reverence for God's Word just by the way he physically handles the Bible.

Reference:  (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 29, 2011

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