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Thursday, February 11, 2021

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Our Lady of Lourdes


Genesis 2:18-25
Psalm 128:1-5
Mark 7:24-30

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v.i.p.

God “brought them to the man to see what he would call them.” —Genesis 2:19

God, Who can do all things, obviously doesn’t need our help. Nevertheless, He lets us be involved in His awesome works. For example, when God created the animals, birds, and even the first woman, He could have done it all Himself. Instead “He brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each of them would be its name” (Gn 2:19).
For the Jewish people, naming was not an insignificant task but one of giving someone or something its identity. Therefore, by having Adam name the animals, birds, and the first woman, God let Adam be a co-creator. The Lord also gives us other exceptional opportunities. For example, the Syro-Phoenician woman was given the power to move up the time for Jesus’ ministry to the Gentiles (Mk 7:27ff). The Lord has even given us the power to hasten His Second Coming (2 Pt 3:12). The Lord has chosen to make us not spectators but co-creators and participants in His glorious plan of salvation (see Heb 11:40).
Therefore, what we do and when we do it makes a difference. We have been given opportunities to further God’s work or to hinder it. Our lives are very important. By His grace, we must be responsible. “Do not continue in ignorance, but try to discern the will of the Lord” (Eph 5:17).

Prayer:  Father, “what is man that You should be mindful of him?” (Ps 8:5)

Promise:  “When she got home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.” —Mk 7:30

Praise:  “Our Lady of Lourdes, as you looked down with love and mercy upon St. Bernadette as she prayed her rosary in the grotto, look down now, we beseech you, with love and mercy upon us.”

Reference:  (For a related teaching on Job Performance for Jesus, order, view or download our leaflet or order, listen to, or download our CD 43-3 or DVD 43 on our website.)

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for One Bread, One Body covering the period from February 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021. Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio March 31, 2020"

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.