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Monday, December 4, 2023

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St. John of Damascus


Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm 122:1-9
Matthew 8:5-11

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“feed my sheep” (jn 21:17)

“In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say: ‘Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may instruct us in His ways, and we may walk in His paths.’ ” —Isaiah 2:2-3

Today, many stream toward shopping malls and online retailers, saying, “Come, let us finish our Christmas shopping” (cp Is 2:3). Many merchants hear this call and have answered it, setting up shop to supply the consumer demand. We at Presentation Ministries follow a different call: to provide Scriptural resources for those who “stream” to the Lord for instruction.

The above passage, Isaiah 2:2-3, is a foundational prophecy for Presentation Ministries (PM). Decades ago, we at PM heard the call of God to receive and then exercise the spiritual gift of teaching. We sensed that God was calling us to provide a banquet of Catholic Scriptural resources for instruction in God’s “ways” and to guide Christians as they set out to “walk in His paths” (Is 2:3). We heard that there would be a famine for hearing God’s Word (Am 8:11) and built up and made available a storehouse of teachings to instruct and feed people (see Gn 41:48-49, 56ff).

Pray for us in our ministry to send forth God’s instruction. Work with us by feeding people with God’s Word. We have many resources at our website, www.presentationministries.com, which can help feed both new and seasoned disciples. Isaiah prophesies that people will stream toward the Lord for instruction. Feed His people (see Jn 21:17).

Prayer:  Father, You have been preparing us for years. May we be quick to lead the streaming crowds to the banquet of Your Word.

Promise:  “Many will come from the east and the west and will find a place at the banquet in the kingdom of God.” —Mt 8:11

Praise:  St. John of Damascus helped others to grow in faith by the many theological works that he wrote.

Reference:  (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

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 December 1, 2023, through January 31, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio May 17, 2023"

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.