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One Bread, One Body - Reflection for February 26, 2011

CHILD ABUSE

"People were bringing their little children to Him to have Him touch them, but the disciples were scolding them for this." –Mark 10:13

Jesus says: "Let the children come to Me and do not hinder them" (Mk 10:14). He will not only touch the children but embrace and bless them, placing His nail-scarred hands on them (Mk 10:16). In contrast, Satan tries to keep children away from Jesus so his demons can molest and abuse them. What is Satan using now to keep children away from Jesus?

  1. Entertainment – mass media, many popular websites, contemporary music, and especially TV, ignore Jesus, portray Christians in a distorted way, and promote a secular lifestyle.
  2. Education – public education thinks it's compelled to ignore Jesus. Even Christian education is often so highly secularized that Jesus is often little more than a footnote. How many graduates of our Christian schools are true disciples of Jesus?
  3. Religion – the average church is so far removed from authentic New Testament Christianity that it conceals rather than reveals Jesus.
  4. Parents – many parents are so lax or confused about their responsibility as parents that they don't share their love for Jesus with their children and pray with them. They let their children be bombarded with anti-Christian propaganda and give Jesus the "silent treatment."

PRAYER: Jesus, may I lead a child to You today.
PROMISE: "The Lord from the earth created man, and in His own image He made him." –Sir 17:1
PRAISE: Hannah homeschooled her children in order that they could attend daily Mass together.

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Acknowledgement

Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:

· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College