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Monday, October 2, 2017

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Guardian Angels


Zechariah 8:1-8
Psalm 102:16-21, 29, 22-23
Luke 9:46-50
or Matthew 18:1-5, 10

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baptized, evangelistic, and catholic

"The city shall be filled...They shall be My people." —Zechariah 8:5, 8

Jesus attracted people. He was mobbed by crowds. People even pushed and stepped on each other to get closer to Jesus (Lk 12:1). Jesus attracted people of all kinds — Jews, Gentiles, rich, poor, young, old, Pharisees, priests, tax-collectors, prostitutes, etc. Jesus fulfilled Zechariah's prophecy concerning an evangelistic power with universal, catholic appeal (Zec 8:23).

We who have been baptized into Christ are like Christ when we attract people of all kinds to Christ. We are evangelistic and catholic. We make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19). We do this by living our Baptisms. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to live our Baptisms. By letting the Holy Spirit run our lives, we have a new Pentecost in which people "of every nation under heaven" come to be baptized into Jesus (Acts 2:5). When we live our Baptisms by the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is recognized as lifted up, and He draws all people to Himself (Jn 12:32).

Live your Baptism. Be evangelistic and catholic.

Prayer:  Father, let me fully benefit from my guardian angel's efforts to help me live my Baptism.

Promise:  "Whoever makes himself lowly, becoming like this child, is of greatest importance in that heavenly reign." —Mt 18:4

Praise:  Escaping a potentially fatal auto accident, Father Tim and his friend thanked God and their guardian angels for such complete protection as they drove away unharmed.

Reference:  (Presentation Ministries offers a retreat, The Gospel of Mark and How to Teach the Bible in the Power of the Holy Spirit, on Oct. 15-20 at our Retreat Center in Peebles, Ohio. Call 513-373-2397 or visit our website at www.presentationministries.com for more information.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 12, 2017

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