ever-increasing faith
“Increase our faith.” —Luke 17:5
We are saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8). “Faith the size of a mustard seed” can move mountains, trees, and any other obstacles in the way of doing God’s will (Lk 17:6). “The just man, because of his faith, shall live” (Hab 2:4). Having faith makes the difference between everlasting life or death. “All depends on faith” (Rm 4:16). “But when the Son of Man comes, will He find any faith on the earth?” (Lk 18:8)
We have faith, but we also lack faith (Mk 9:24). We must cry out to the Lord: “Increase our faith” (Lk 17:5). One of the main ways the Lord will answer this prayer is by calling us to spend time in His Word daily (see Acts 17:11), to live in His Word (Jn 8:31). “Faith, then, comes through hearing, and what is heard is the word of Christ” (Rm 10:17).
This book, One Bread, One Body, helps us abide in God’s Word daily, which helps us hear God, have faith in Him, and have everlasting life. These things have been “written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (Jn 20:31, RSV-CE).
Receive God’s Word; hear God; have faith in Him; live with Him forever.
Prayer: Father, use my faith to move mountain ranges. On this Right to Life Sunday, we pray in faith for all members of the Church to stand firm, attack the gates of hell, and overturn legalized abortion. [Note: as this issue goes to press, Roe v. Wade has been overturned (federally) in the USA, on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, 2022.]
Promise: “I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God bestowed when my hands were laid on you. The Spirit God has given us is no cowardly Spirit, but rather One that makes us strong, loving, and wise.” —2 Tm 1:6-7
Praise: “If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’ ” (1 Cor 15:32) Lord Jesus, I believe in Your Resurrection and live my life for You.
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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, 2022, through November 30, 2022. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 3, 2022
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.