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Saturday, April 5, 2003

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St. Vincent Ferrer


Jeremiah 11:18-20
Psalm 7
John 7:40-53

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the greatest speaks at every mass

"No man ever spoke like that before." —John 7:46

When the temple guards came to arrest Jesus, they did not do it because they were so impressed by Jesus' words. When people heard Jesus speak, they "were amazed. They began to ask one another: 'What does this mean? A completely new teaching in a spirit of authority!' " (Mk 1:27) After a Samaritan woman conversed with Jesus, she said: "Come and see Someone Who told me everything I ever did. Could this not be the Messiah?" (Jn 4:29) Although the leaders of the people wanted to kill Jesus, "they had no idea how to achieve it, for indeed the entire populace was listening to Him and hanging on His words" (Lk 19:48). Jesus is the eternal, incarnate Word of God (Jn 1:1, 14). His words "are spirit and life" (Jn 6:63). We should seek His word, obey it, center our lives on it, spread it, and be in awe of His word.

At every Mass and liturgy, Jesus, the eternal High Priest, is the Priest and Preacher of God's word. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your ears and hearts so that you are awed by Jesus' ministry of the word at every Mass. This is the purpose of this book, One Bread, One Body: to lead as many people as possible to receive as deeply as possible Jesus' ministry of the word at Mass daily. Hang on Jesus' words (Lk 19:48).

Prayer:  Father, in these days of Lent, may I devour Your word and may it become the "joy and the happiness of my heart" (Jer 15:16).

Promise:  "To You I have entrusted my cause!" — Jer 12:20

Praise:  St. Vincent was a preacher with an extraordinary gift of converting souls. In his final illness, he had the Passion of Jesus read to him, followed by the seven penitential psalms (Ps 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143). Immersed in God's word, he then died a happy death.

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our tape Loving the Mass on audio AV 54-3 or video V-54.)

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Giles H. Pater, October 17, 2002


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 21, 2002