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Thursday, February 17, 2022

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Seven Founders of the Order of Servites


James 2:1-9
Psalm 34:2-7
Mark 8:27-33

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decisions, decisions, decisions

Jesus said: “Who do you say that I am?” —Mark 8:29

Many of you have acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah (Mk 8:29). You have even accepted Him as your Savior. After being overwhelmed by life’s problems, you’re happy to be saved. But who wants a Lord? Who wants to be told what to do and give up getting their own way? Nevertheless, some have even accepted Jesus as Lord.

The next step is to know the Lord so deeply as to recognize He is Lord God. Now we not only obey Him but worship Him. After we acknowledge Jesus as Messiah, Savior, Lord, and God, He begins to teach us about suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection (Mk 8:31). Like Peter, we want to brush off such overwhelming realities (Mk 8:32).

Now we must decide if we will accept a suffering Messiah and crucified Savior. Instinctively, we know that followers of a crucified Lord and God will also be crucified. We must say: “I have been crucified with Christ, and the life I live now is not my own; Christ is living in me. I still live my human life, but it is a life of faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal 2:19-20).

Prayer:  Jesus, my Lord, my God (Jn 20:28), my crucified God, I worship You.

Promise:  “Did not God choose those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom He promised to those who love Him?” —Jas 2:5

Praise:  Seven young noblemen, after settling their secular affairs, were inspired to establish the “Ordo Fratrum Servorum Sanctae Mariae.” Popularly called the Servites, they devoted themselves to prayer and ministry.

Reference:  (For a related teaching on Accepting Jesus as Lord, Savior and God, listen to, download or order our CD 43-1 or DVD 43 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 February 01/2022 through March 31, 2022 Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio June 16, 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.