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Friday, September 16, 2022

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Pope St. Cornelius &
St. Cyprian


1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Psalm 17:1, 6-8, 15
Luke 8:1-3

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the big difference

“If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is void of content and your faith is empty too. Indeed, we should then be exposed as false witnesses of God.” —1 Corinthians 15:14-15

“If there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ Himself has not been raised” (1 Cor 15:13). “And if Christ was not raised, your faith is worthless. You are still in your sins, and those who have fallen asleep in Christ are the deadest of the dead. If our hopes in Christ are limited to this life only, we are the most pitiable of men” (1 Cor 15:17-19). However, because Christ has risen and will raise from the dead those who live for Him, those who do not know and believe this “are the most pitiable of men” and have hopes limited to this life only.

How can those who don’t believe in the risen Christ face death without despairing? They are “strangers to the covenant and its promise;” they are “without hope” (Eph 2:12). How can those who don’t believe in Jesus, “the Resurrection and the Life” (Jn 11:25), live without trivializing life or seeing it as a cruel joke in which our deepest human desires are crushed in the finality of death? To believe that Jesus has risen and will raise us from the dead affects every breath, thought, love, desire, decision, and moment of our lives. Not to believe in the Resurrection is to walk in fearful darkness.

Consequently, out of love for God and people, obey Jesus Who insists that we be witnesses to His Resurrection (see Acts 4:33). Risk your life (see 1 Cor 15:30) to tell the ultimate good news of resurrection from the dead in the risen Christ.

Prayer:  Father, send the Holy Spirit so that I will draw hope from Jesus’ Resurrection (1 Pt 1:3) and witness for the risen Christ far beyond what I have ever done before.

Promise:  “On waking, I shall be content in Your presence.” —Ps 17:15

Praise:  St Cyprian and Pope St. Cornelius both died as martyrs.

Reference:  

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 August 1, 2022 through September 30, 2022. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 31, 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.