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Friday, November 12, 2021

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St. Josaphat


Wisdom 13:1-9
Psalm 19:2-5
Luke 17:26-37

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out of this world

“Whoever tries to preserve his life will lose it; whoever loses it will keep it.” —Luke 17:33

On the last day many people will be totally “out of it,” meaning reality, because they are now totally “in it,” meaning the world. To be worldly is to be out of touch with reality. The worldly act as if this earthly life is all there is. That’s a devastating omission. When Jesus comes, planet earth burns (2 Pt 3:7), and Judgment Day is here. The worldly will be buying a pack of cigarettes or looking at their handheld electronic devices. They will be taking out insurance policies and making investments, but it will be all over in seconds.

Jesus said: “As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They ate and drank, they took husbands and wives, right up to the day Noah entered the ark — and when the flood came, it destroyed them all” (Lk 17:26-27).

There’s no fool like a damned fool. “I have often said this to you before; this time I say it with tears. Such as these will end in disaster! Their god is their belly and their glory is in their shame. I am talking about those who are set upon the things of this world” (Phil 3:18-19). To be in the world means to be out of touch with reality. The worldly fear reality and try to escape from it. To be out of this world is the only way to be real. Only the otherworldly can stand to be in touch with reality.

Prayer:  Jesus, without You I could not stand to live.

Promise:  “For if they so far succeeded in knowledge that they could speculate about the world, how did they not more quickly find its Lord?” —Wis 13:9

Praise:  St. Josaphat’s intercession is a unifying bond for Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians. Born a Ukrainian Orthodox, he converted to Catholicism. Jesus prayed “that all may be one” (Jn 17:21).

Reference:  (Advent is coming! Consider ordering, viewing or downloading our leaflet, An Isaiah Advent, on our website.)

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 October 1, 2021 through November 30, 2021. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Vicar General, Chancellor, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio April 14, 2021"

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.