the light of sacrifice
"Upon its altar Solomon offered a thousand holocausts. In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night." —1 Kings 3:4-5
After Solomon sacrificed a thousand holocausts, the Lord appeared to him. The Lord wants to reveal Himself to us, but we have built walls of selfishness separating us from Him. If we accept His grace to change from selfishness to self-sacrifice, we will be receptive to the Lord's revelation. Sacrifice is the prerequisite for receiving many of the Lord's revelations.
Noah and Abraham offered sacrifices to the Lord before He revealed His covenant to them (Gn 8:20ff; 15:9ff). After offering many sacrifices during the ark's procession into Jerusalem (2 Sm 6:13), David received the astounding revelation that his kingdom would endure forever (2 Sm 7:16). The ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the Son of God, on the altar of the cross was the prerequisite for God's ultimate revelation of the resurrection, the Holy Spirit, and the Church.
The purpose of One Bread, One Body is to encourage you to go to Mass daily or as often as possible. We want to prepare you through God's word to enter into the continuing presence of Jesus' once and for all sacrifice on Calvary (see Heb 10:10, 12). Then, as you live the sacrifice of the Mass (which is the sacrifice on Calvary), you will receive God's revelation. You will know God, His plan, and His love. See the light through sacrifice.
Prayer: Father, I will carry my crosses and walk in the light.
Promise: "He pitied them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them at great length." —Mk 6:34
Praise: Jesus healed Esther of terminal cancer. She witnesses of His love to everyone she meets.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, July 26, 1997
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 29, 1997