Today, don’t watch the news on TV or your handheld electronic device. Instead, picture in your mind the “prophetic” news reported by Zechariah in today’s first Eucharistic reading. A news camera zooms in on a group of old men and women sitting peacefully in chairs on a sidewalk in Jerusalem. They are observing a game played by a group of happy children in the street (Zec 8:4-5). Zechariah, the prophet-reporter, looks into the camera. He reports that these older folks have lived many years because there have been no car-bombings, terrorist attacks, or random shootings. The old folks are secure and feel no need to hide in their homes for safety. The children have lived their entire life in peace and have no experience of oppression and injustice (see Zec 8:12).

Zechariah’s audience scoffs at this idyllic setting. Exiled for decades, they have only recently returned to Jerusalem. Much of the city is still in rubble. Rebuilding goes slowly because the people are poor and defenseless against marauders. Zechariah’s prophetic news flash seems “impossible” to them (Zec 8:6).

What situation in your life seems impossible to you? “Even if this should seem impossible in [your] eyes,” should it “be impossible in My eyes also, says the Lord?” (Zec 8:6) “For God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26).  The Lord says to you: “Is My hand too short to ransom? Have I not the strength to deliver?” (Is 50:2)

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, 2021 through September 30, 2021. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Vicar General, Chancellor, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 12, 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.