When a fish is caught and taken out of the water, it will die. Its former watery way of life “is passing away” (1 Cor 7:31). Similarly, everything changes when we enter into the kingdom of God. Living in God’s kingdom is as different from our pre-Christian life as is life for that fish trying to live on land. Lifestyles that worked underwater no longer work in fresh air. In order for the fish to live on land, that fish would need to receive a new nature.

So it is with us human beings. To live in the kingdom of God, we die to our old nature in Baptism; we then become “sharers of the divine nature” (2 Pt 1:4) when we rise from the waters of Baptism. Now our old lifestyle won’t work. Once we begin living the new, baptized life in Christ, we can no longer live the lifestyle we had before Christ. We must discard those things we used to do before we gave ourselves to Jesus (see Eph 4:22-24). We can no longer live as do the nonbelievers (1 Pt 4:2-3). We die to ourselves, pick up our cross each day, follow Jesus (Lk 9:23), and live the new lifestyle that befits a member of the household of God (1 Tm 3:15).

Are you struggling to live a godly life? Are you having a hard time breathing the risen air? Maybe you’re not dead yet. Beg Jesus to crucify your old nature (Gal 5:24) and raise you up to life to the full (Jn 10:10).

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from December 1, 2023, through January 31, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio March 17, 2023"

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.