tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682212565919009392024-03-13T08:48:54.189-05:00Immersed In ChristImmersed in ChristBrainiachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681402620252665717noreply@blogger.comBlogger897125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-27977581387049569332017-04-30T12:18:00.002-05:002017-04-30T12:18:39.185-05:00Moving the Immersed in Christ Blog<div style="text-align: center;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-87203834828605940312017-04-30T08:00:00.000-05:002017-04-30T12:17:28.504-05:00Our final Blog Post<div style="text-align: center;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-12304901371519970962017-04-15T10:48:00.000-05:002017-04-15T10:48:24.546-05:00April 15, 2017: Holy Saturday<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>April 15, 2017<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/041517.cfm" target="_blank">View Today's Readings</a></b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E7XSNqkuZCw/WPJAwFjnIJI/AAAAAAAAC7s/e5gYH8N4L1gusN80hTodeFsM8RM-mYfUQCLcB/s1600/Easter-Vigil-candle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E7XSNqkuZCw/WPJAwFjnIJI/AAAAAAAAC7s/e5gYH8N4L1gusN80hTodeFsM8RM-mYfUQCLcB/s320/Easter-Vigil-candle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Holy
Saturday</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The
liturgy teaches us to meditate on the word of God by giving us examples of
meditation. One of the most all-inclusive meditations on the mystery and gift
of the death and resurrection of Jesus is the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Exsultet</i> or “Easter Proclamation.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">First
the presiding priest lights the Easter candle from the new fire that was
kindled in darkness at the doors of the church as a symbol of the new light
Jesus brought into the world. He prays in the name of all: “May the light of
Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.” The
victory of Christ is a victory of Truth over error. His light is the “light of
life.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">God’s
word is a light to “walk in.” We reflect on God’s word as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">disciples</i> to find in it a “way of life.” This Light is
indistinguishable from the Life of Christ, and it is only “in Christ” as
sharers in his divine life by grace, that we can see and understand: “For with
you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”<sup> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></sup></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The
priest or deacon processes through the church, carrying the Easter candle.
Three times he stops, lifts the candle high, and sings, “Christ our Light!” The
people respond,” Thanks be to God!” This is a proclamation of faith and
commitment that affirms our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">identity</i>
as Christians. We are the people who have chosen the light of Christ to be our
light rather than the darkness of human culture. We recognize his teaching as a
gift. We are grateful for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The “gift of the Holy Spirit” we associate with Baptism is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Understanding</i>. The “fruit of the Spirit”
is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Joy</i>. This is the Light that is
Life.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Easter Joy<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The first theme of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Exsultet</i>
is “Rejoice!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rejoice,
heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels! Exult, all creation around God’s
throne. Jesus Christ, our King, is risen. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rejoice
O earth… glory fills you…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Because Christ “has risen… has conquered… darkness vanishes
forever.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rejoice
O Mother Church! Exult in glory…. Let this place resound with joy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">If we cannot resonate with that, we have not heard the Good News.
We need to immerse ourselves in discipleship, absorbing the message of the
Gospel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Exsultet</i> now
summarizes what the Good News is. It concentrates our attention on the
five<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>basic mysteries. promises and
commitments of Baptism.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A new
identity<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Christians
everywhere, washed clean of sin and freed from all defilement, are restored to
grace</span></i><span style="color: black;">….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is the mystery that includes all others: our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">transformation</i> from slaves of sin into
free children of the Father through the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">new
identity</i> that is ours. By incorporation into his body on the cross, dying
and rising in him, we have “become Christ.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Christ
has ransomed us with his blood and paid the price of Adam’s sin</span></i><span style="color: black;">…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A price, not of punishment due, but of ransom from servitude to
“the world, the flesh and the devil.” Because “Christ, the true Lamb is slain,”
we died in him, our sins were annihilated, and we rose as his body, a “new
creation,” blessed with the very “holiness of God.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Enlightenment<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This
is the night when the pillar of fire destroyed the darkness of sin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The mystery of this transformation is that we are now the “light
of the world.” We enjoy the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">enlightenment</i>
promised to those who commit themselves as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">disciples</i>,
students of the word of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">If you continue in my word, you are
truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you
free.”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Power in the
Spirit<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Freedom has a purpose. The delivered have a destiny<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">You
freed the people of Israel from their slavery and led them dry-shod through the
sea</span></i><span style="color: black;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Red Sea was a symbol and preview Baptism. By passing through
its waters the Chosen People were freed from subjection to the laws of Egypt in
order to reveal to the world the radical freedom of those who know the <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One Commandment: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God,
the LORD alone. You shall love the LORD your God with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> your heart, and with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i>
your soul, and with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> your might.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Him only shall you fear; him only shall you serve. “Do not follow
any of the gods of the peoples who are all around you,”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We who passed through the water of Baptism were freed from slavery
to any authority but God’s. We obey human laws with the “freedom of the
children of God, in “singleness of heart,” with undivided loyalty to God,
obeying not “in order to please them, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will
of God from the heart.”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">To accept this freedom is to renounce slavery to our culture. We
don’t conform to what is expected in our society. We don’t “follow any of the
gods of the peoples who are all around us.” We don’t assume their attitudes. We
don’t embrace their values. We are different. In Baptism we were consecrated as
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">prophets</i>, “anointed” with the “power
of the Spirit.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This
is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant
from the grave.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">To be a “prophet” is to profess the faith through a lifestyle that
doesn’t make sense without it: one that cannot be explained except through the
Light and Life of the risen Jesus present and active within us, sweeping aside
darkness and fear of death. This is the core of Christian witness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Posterity<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">This
is our Passover feast, when Christ, the true Lamb is slain whose blood
consecrates the homes of all believers</span></i><span style="color: black;">….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We are sanctified as a community. It is not just our hearts, but
our homes that are consecrated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br clear="all" />
</span><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">John</i> 1:4, 8:11; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Psalms</i> 36:9, 56:13; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Proverbs</i>
6:23; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Matthew</i> 11-25-30.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
See <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Isaiah</i> 11:2-3; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Galatians</i> 5:22-23.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[3]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">2Corinthians</i> 5:21.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[4]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">John</i> 8:31-32.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[5]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Deuteronomy</i> 6:4-14.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[6]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Romans</i> 8:15-27; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ephesians</i> 6:5-6.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-26207143761680227892017-04-14T09:33:00.003-05:002017-04-14T09:33:50.879-05:00April 14, 2017: Good Friday<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>April 14, 2017<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/041417.cfm" target="_blank">View Today's Readings</a></b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lZqIdcxtr_M/WPDds8ty2CI/AAAAAAAAC7c/ZK-vxjkvdDwGa1DnL7JUC8bE8f_n1BPtgCLcB/s1600/Faith-hope-love-community.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lZqIdcxtr_M/WPDds8ty2CI/AAAAAAAAC7c/ZK-vxjkvdDwGa1DnL7JUC8bE8f_n1BPtgCLcB/s200/Faith-hope-love-community.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Good
Friday<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Responsorial </i>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Psalm</i> 31) expresses the choice our whole lives should lead to: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Father, into your hands I commend my spirit</i>.”
The readings show us the faith, hope and love we need to do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Both <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Isaiah 52:13 to 53:12 </b>and
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hebrews 4:14 to 5:9</b> are reflections
on the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Passion Narrative, John 18:1 to
19:42</b>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Isaiah</i> looks ahead to it; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hebrews</i> looks back on it. Both are
meditations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Isaiah tells us Jesus’ life had value “because he surrendered
himself to death.” The same is true of ours. By “dying” in Baptism to
everything life on this earth offers and promises, we entered into Life. But we
have to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">live out</i> that death.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In
this fourth and last “Song of the Servant,” Isaiah says the life of Jesus and
his followers is shocking. He says, “Who would believe...?” People will be
“amazed,” “startled,” turned off. “There was in him no… appearance that would
attract us to him. He was spurned and avoided... We held him in no esteem.” But
read Isaiah’s text and then <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Psalm</i> 31.
The way God used and rewarded Christ’s life leads us to say, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Father, into your hands I commend my spirit</i>.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Hebrews</span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></b><span style="color: black;">tells us why we no longer<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hold Jesus </span>“in no esteem.” He is our lifeline to God
and beatitude, “Jacob’s ladder,” connecting heaven to earth.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Hebrews</span></i><span style="color: black;"> invites us
to reflect on what Jesus is as “priest.” Jesus is the “connector.” The bridge.
He is not just a third-party mediator or intercessor, standing between us and
the Father. Through Jesus we are connected to the Father. He mediates God’ s
life to us by bringing us into God and God into us. He intercedes for us from
within our hearts. He doesn’t just pray for us, he prays <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">as</i> us, and we pray as him. Through our identification with him by
Baptism we are “priests in the Priest.”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Even psychologically, we can “connect” with Jesus because he is
not “unable to sympathize with our weakness.” He was “tempted in every way that
we are.” The bottom of the ladder is stuck in our earth. We can get our feet on
it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">On earth, when Jesus was “in the flesh, he offered prayers and
supplications with loud cries and tears” — just like us. And he “learned
obedience from what he suffered.” But now that he is “made perfect,” he has
become “the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The top of the ladder is in heaven. Jesus is “a great high priest
who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God.” Jesus connects us to
God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Obedience is the key. Jesus was “made perfect” in obedience to the
Father. We are made perfect by obeying the Father ”through him, with him and in
him” in obedience to Jesus as members of his body subject to our Head. In life
and in death we say in union with him: </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Father,
into your hands I commend my spirit</i>.”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now read the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Passion
Narrative</b>.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Initiative:
Spend your life </span></b><span style="color: black;">saying, </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Father, into your hands I commend my spirit</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> See <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Genesis</i> 28:10-22 and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">John</i> 1:45-51.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> See <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">John</i> 14:9-20, 16:23-28.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[3]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> See <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ephesians</i> 5:21-30; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Philippians</i> 3:7-21; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Colossians</i>
1:11-24; 2:6 to 3:4.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-11578273057585388712017-04-12T20:34:00.001-05:002017-04-14T09:34:06.986-05:00April 13, 2017: Thursday of Holy Week, 2017<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>April 13, 2017<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Holy Thursday<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/041317.cfm" target="_blank">View Today's Readings</a></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1tY6lVZalBM/WO7VqVWKkBI/AAAAAAAAC7E/Icrn9BDu6eI7WnPNLaeL4Pg4ZITk8QuRgCLcB/s1600/lords-supper-clipart-the-mass-of-the-lord-s-supper-yTOPtv-clipart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1tY6lVZalBM/WO7VqVWKkBI/AAAAAAAAC7E/Icrn9BDu6eI7WnPNLaeL4Pg4ZITk8QuRgCLcB/s400/lords-supper-clipart-the-mass-of-the-lord-s-supper-yTOPtv-clipart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mass
of the Lord’s Supper</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The “Easter triduum” are three days that constitute one single
celebration. Any one of them without the others is incomplete.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Easter Vigil</i>
celebrates the resurrection of Jesus as the mystery that gives meaning to all
human life and history. But without the celebration of Christ’s sacrificial
death on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Good Friday</i>, Easter would be
unintelligible. And without the institution of the Eucharist, celebrated on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Holy Thursday</i>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ’s death and resurrection would be a
thing of the past — reported, remembered and relied-upon – but present only to
God in the transcendent “Now” of eternity; not present to us in the time and
place of the world we live in. Taken together, they reveal Christian life as an
individual and communal presence to and participation in the ongoing act of
love by which the Father, Son and Spirit redeemed the world. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Liturgy of the Word</i> is to help us
understand this mystery. We listen to the readings as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">disciples</i> eager to learn.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Exodus 12:
1-14:</span></b><span style="color: black;"> “This month shall stand at the head of your calendar.” Time
counts, and we should count time, not just numerically by adding hours and
days, but historically, seeing it as a series of events. The events are what
give time meaning. By celebrating events we absorb their meaning into our lives
and pass that meaning on to others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The readings that are part of the celebration do three things:
they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tell the story </i>of the events, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">remind</i> us to keep them in memory, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">explain</i> to us their meaning. Where the
meaning is expressed in symbols, the readings tell us what those symbols say.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reading God’s word is always part of our celebration. It lets us
understand what we celebrate. Celebration makes what is proclaimed or taught in
the word real and active in our lives — especially our communal lives. Liturgy
unites light to life and us to one another in the “communion of the Holy
Spirit.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">1Corinthians
11:23-26</span></b><span style="color: black;"> is an example: the words present the mystery “handed on” to us.
But we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">proclaim</i> it as a community
every time we “eat this bread and drink this cup.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">John 13: 1-15</b> Jesus
teaches us how to participate in Mass. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do
you realize</i> what I have done?” It is not enough to see and hear; we have to
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">think</i>, meditate, absorb the meaning
of the words, gestures and symbols. And keep doing it: “You may not realize now
what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Hearing should prompt personal
reflection and communal discussion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And we have to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">act</i> on
what we hear: “As I have done, so you must do.” Hearing should lead to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">decisions</i>. Jesus is both “Teacher” and
“Lord.” His words are not just data; they are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">directions</i> — to be acted on.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Initiative:
Don’t leave Mass</span></b><span style="color: black;"> without making a <i>decision</i>
based on what you heard.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-37098821198847754822017-04-11T21:57:00.000-05:002017-04-11T21:57:04.127-05:00April 12, 2017: “Lord, in your great love, answer me.”<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>April 12, 2017<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Wednesday of Holy Week<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/041217.cfm" target="_blank">View Today's Readings</a></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Responsorial </i>(read all of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Psalm</i> 69) is the constant prayer of the
servants of God: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0i9o_JiQquQ/WO2XerczgtI/AAAAAAAAC6g/Rn5949k6qi4RnIOs9fk3KxQoDY_KScUHwCLcB/s1600/weary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0i9o_JiQquQ/WO2XerczgtI/AAAAAAAAC6g/Rn5949k6qi4RnIOs9fk3KxQoDY_KScUHwCLcB/s320/weary.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“<i>Lord, in your great love, answer me.</i>”</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Isaiah 50:
4-9 </span></b><span style="color: black;">is the third <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Song of the
Servant</i>. The Servant neither depends on human support nor fears human
opposition. His confidence is in God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">• God has equipped him: “The Lord God has given me a well-trained
tongue.” Think of how God has equipped us in the Church. But for our “tongue”
to serve, it must be “trained” through <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">use</i>
of “word and sacrament.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">• Training is ongoing: “Morning after morning he opens my ear that
I may hear.” The Servant is a continuing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">disciple</i>.
He listens. Daily. “The Servant must first be a disciple, prayerfully receiving
God’s word, before he can presume to teach others.”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">• He accepts persecution and suffering without resentment: “I have
not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me....”
The “way of the cross” is to endure evil and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">love back</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">• He relies on God for strength and victory: “ “The Lord God is my
help, therefore I am not disgraced.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">• This is the source of his courage and perseverance. Nothing is
going to turn him aside from his mission:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to
shame.” “See, the Lord God is my help.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Mathew 26:
14-25</span></b><span style="color: black;"> shows us another contrast. Judas looks ahead and sees that Jesus
is going to go down. So he takes care of himself. He takes his stakes out of
the pot and invests in the future. He goes over to the enemy, the “chief
priests,” and asks, “What will you give me if I hand him over to you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">When the disciples look ahead, they go to Jesus: “Where do you
wish us to prepare the Passover supper for you?” They are with him and have
cast in their lot with him. They trust in whatever he says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jesus answers as he did when they asked him how to feed the crowd
that was following him in the wilderness. He told them to call on the
community, ask them to share. “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” They
found a boy with “five barley loaves and two fish.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now he says, “Go to this man in the city...” — obviously a
believer — “...and tell him, ‘the Teacher says my appointed time draws near. I
am to celebrate the Passover with my disciples in your house.” Jesus knows he
will share.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">“When it grew dark, he reclined at table with the Twelve” — soon
to be eleven. As night approached, all they had was themselves and God. It was
enough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Except for Judas. After receiving the “bread” from Jesus’ hand, he
“immediately went out.” Then, John wrote, “It was night.”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Initiative:
In any need</span></b><span style="color: black;">, pray </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lord,
in your great love, answer me.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jerome Biblical Commentary.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mark</i> 6:38; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">John</i> 6:9; 13;26-30.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-49320389515469611792017-04-10T20:59:00.002-05:002017-04-10T20:59:16.881-05:00April 11, 2017: In the Absence of the Human, the Divine is Revealed<h1 class="font_5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>April 11, 2017</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Tuesday of Holy Week<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/041117.cfm" target="_blank">View Today's Readings</a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5m1qNOh64NI/WOw4Y2JEHVI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/yegrXIO-oSQTME6TUq5RB2o0w2PsXtwbACLcB/s1600/TakingofChrist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5m1qNOh64NI/WOw4Y2JEHVI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/yegrXIO-oSQTME6TUq5RB2o0w2PsXtwbACLcB/s320/TakingofChrist.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<h1 class="font_5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the Absence of the Human, </span></span></h1>
<h1 class="font_5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">the Divine is Revealed</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">Isaiah 49:
1-6</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"> is the beginning of the second <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Song of the Servant</i>. These songs<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">portray the ideal Servant of God,
the perfect Israelite, whose consecration to the divine will, even in the midst
of overwhelming suffering, ‘takes away the sins of many.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Servant’s identity is complex: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Servant is “Israel, alive in all
of her great leaders and intercessors.... But the collective interpretation
leads to an individual Servant of supreme holiness, greater than any single
Israelite of the past.... It was Jesus who clearly identified himself as the
Servant.... The Servant is both a collective personality and an individual
messiah.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For practical purposes we can apply what is said about the Servant
to Jesus, to Israel, to the Church, and to ourselves. Individually and
collectively, we are all engaged in his mission, and we experience what he
experiences in fulfilling it. Four points to keep in mind:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">The Servant
knows he was chosen “from my mother’s womb.” So do we — at least from the womb
of Baptism. And Jesus. But he was tempted to doubt it, as we are.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">He feels he
has “toiled in vain and for nothing.” So did Jesus, who on the cross felt
failure and abandonment. So do we.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">He knows his
“reward is with the Lord.” So did Jesus. In his human consciousness he did not know
on the cross that he would rise from the dead. But like Abraham sacrificing
Isaac, he believed, “hoping against hope,” that he was inexplicably saving the
world and entering into his glory. We sometimes need to do the same.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">In response
to his discouragement, God extends his mission beyond Israel to include the
whole earth: “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may
reach to the ends of the earth.” When the pot is empty, throw a party! After
Good Friday, Pentecost. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I will sing of your salvation.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">John 13:
21-38</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"> shows us Jesus aware of betrayal and denial by two of his closest
followers, and his response is to say, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and
God is glorified in him!” He knew things were out of his hands. He was to be
delivered up. He had no human support. And he knew the Scriptural principle: In
the absence of the human the divine is revealed, The Virgin Birth: the absence
of a human father revealed the fatherhood of God. Sending his disciples without
resources to show they relied on God.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His present situation: the absence of all
human support meant he was in the hands of God. If God was allowing his total
abasement, God must be glorifying him. There was nothing more to do but
surrender in joy: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I will sing of your salvation.</i>”<span style="color: black;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">Initiative:
Find life</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"> in death, hope in despair, light in darkness, love in
abandonment, power in weakness. In the absence of the human, rejoice in God. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jerome Biblical Commentary.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> See his
temptations, beginning with “If...” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Matthew</i>
4:1-11; 27:39-46.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Romans</i> 4:18; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">John</i> 12:23-28.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Matthew</i> 10:9-10.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-17751340353641521132017-04-09T19:26:00.004-05:002017-04-09T19:26:56.719-05:00April 10, 2017: Extravagance for God<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>April 10, 2017</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>MONDAY of Holy Week<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/041017.cfm" target="_blank">View Today's Readings</a></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HuoLFBe83UY/WOrRP4zT32I/AAAAAAAAC6A/1dFTnv34F9o72wI4LFZUtr93JOx8Ww26QCLcB/s1600/SmellsLikeLove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HuoLFBe83UY/WOrRP4zT32I/AAAAAAAAC6A/1dFTnv34F9o72wI4LFZUtr93JOx8Ww26QCLcB/s320/SmellsLikeLove.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Extravagance for God</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isaiah 42: 1-7</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> is the first “</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Song of the Servant of Yahweh</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, whom God
calls “my chosen one with whom I am well pleased.” But the description is valid
for anyone who would do the work of God. As </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">disciples</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
we ponder the characteristics of the person God chooses for his work, to whom
he says, “On you I have put my spirit.”</span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->One who will “bring forth justice;” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->“not shouting out... in the streets;”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Lynne%20Marie/Dropbox/IIC%20-%20Shared%20folders%20from%20DK/LMB%20Shared%20Stuff/BLOG%20FE%205%20'17%20formatted.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->who “will not break the crushed reed;” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->who “will not grow faint” before “establishing fair judgment on
earth;”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->for whose teaching the ends of the earth are “waiting.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
God who chooses this kind of person is the exultant Creator who “spreads out
the heavens,” and “gives breath and spirit to people.” His desire is clear: “I called you for the
victory of justice, as a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, and
bring out prisoners who live in darkness.” He wants life, light, freedom. God “grasped by the hand” and “formed” his
servant. Intimacy. Guidance. Do these points give something to think about? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>John
12: 1-11</b> shows us a contrast. First there is Mary, who like the exultant,
profligate Creator in Isaiah, pours out on Jesus’ feet a pound of perfume so
expensive it would take a laborer’s whole yearly wage to buy it. Crazy!
Extravagant. Passionate. Like God!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Judas makes the called-for objection: “We could have sold it! And
given the money to the poor!” If he himself were giving extravagantly to the
poor, we could accept that. But what he really shows is a mind that can’t see
beyond dollars-and-cents to passionate love. Even if he hadn’t been stealing he
would have been horrified. He had a small heart. Passion doesn’t count pennies.
Or stop to count anything!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">St. Ignatius says we make more spiritual progress through one
really generous act than ten run-of-the-mill sacrifices. Why? Because we get a
taste of what God is like. We get it by treating God like God — which,
paradoxically, is the way to experience how he treats us — with boundless love
and unstoppable generosity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It figures: God is “in-finite” (without <i>fines</i>, the Latin for boundaries). If we try to respond to him
without boundaries, we get a hint of what it is like not to have any. St.
Ignatius’ prayer was:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dearest Lord, teach me to be
generous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To serve you as you deserve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To give and not to count the
cost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To fight and not to heed the
wounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To toil and not to seek for
rest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To labor and not ask for
reward —<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Save that of knowing I am
doing your will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We could do worse. The core of both these readings is the picture
of a God who exults in giving life and being, and invites us to be the same. “<i>The Lord is my light and my salvation.</i>”<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Initiative:
Do something extravagant: </b>for someone else or for yourself. Feel
God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Lynne%20Marie/Dropbox/IIC%20-%20Shared%20folders%20from%20DK/LMB%20Shared%20Stuff/BLOG%20FE%205%20'17%20formatted.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
He “accomplishes his mission modestly and quietly, not whipping people into
conformity but transforming them interiorly.” <i>Jerome Biblical Quarterly</i>.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-65551926010994485642017-04-09T11:43:00.003-05:002017-04-09T19:25:01.156-05:00April 9, 2017: Conversion to Unconditional Discipleship<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">April
9 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">THE
SIXTH SUNDAY OF LENT (Year A)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">PALM
SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040917.cfm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">View Today's Readings</span></a></b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mB4gOlw_nSI/WOpkp2LVQsI/AAAAAAAAC5w/PfZ1OTJnYNw4fnA-xGxlHLAltKYkbhb3ACLcB/s1600/palm-sunday-canada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mB4gOlw_nSI/WOpkp2LVQsI/AAAAAAAAC5w/PfZ1OTJnYNw4fnA-xGxlHLAltKYkbhb3ACLcB/s320/palm-sunday-canada.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Conversion
to Unconditional Discipleship<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Inventory<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Do
I ever grow weary of praying? Of reading Scripture or reflecting on the word of
God? Do I sometimes feel it is useless, that nothing ever comes of it? Do I
ever feel that God just doesn’t care about me? Did Jesus feel this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Input<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The
<i>Responsorial Psalm</i> is the first verse
of <i>Psalm</i> 22, the verse Jesus quoted
on the cross: “<i>My
God, my God, why have you abandoned me?</i>”
Jesus may have recited the whole Psalm, but if not, the first verse was enough
to bring the whole Psalm to mind in his Jewish listeners. And it is a song of
trust and triumph: “In you our ancestors trusted… and you delivered them. To
you they cried, and were not put to shame… All the ends of the earth shall
remember and turn to the LORD… For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules
over the nations.” Jesus was calling up this Psalm to counter the abandonment
he felt in his heart. This pinpoints the theme of all the readings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In
the <i>Opening Prayer</i> w<i>e </i>focus on Jesus as a “model of
humility” because he subjected himself to human weakness like ours. We ask God
to “help us bear witness to you” by trusting in God’s power when our weakness
crushes us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Morning after morning: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Isaiah 50: 4-7 </b>is a declaration of
perseverance based on trust. Isaiah recognizes that he is called to
discipleship because he is sent to teach: “The Lord
GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the
weary with a word.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We are all called to teach. Jesus said to his disciples, “You are
the light of the world…. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel
basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. …Let your
light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory
to your Father in heaven” (<i>Matthew</i> 5:
14-16). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">To do this we must be committed to persevering discipleship, to
constant preoccupation with the message of Jesus; to persistent reading and
reflection on the Scriptures, and to open-minded expansion of our understanding
of Christ’s teaching. Isaiah testifies to his own faithfulness to discipleship:
“<i>Morning after morning</i> he wakens my
ear to <i>listen”</i> as a student.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">What Jesus felt: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Philippians 2: 6-11</b> tells us that Jesus
experienced the same human difficulties we do. We may think that because Jesus
was God prayer always came easy to him; that he never experienced temptations
to doubt and despair; that nothing in him ever resisted the Father’s will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">But
this isn’t true. In his agony in the garden (<i>Matthew</i> 26: 37-46) Jesus felt “deeply
grieved, even to death” — so much so that on the emotional level he was ready
to call off his whole passion: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass
from me!” His feelings were intensely opposed to what God wanted him to do. But
feelings are not the measure of anyone’s faith, hope, or love — neither in
Jesus nor in us. In the garden Jesus did not <i>feel</i> any desire to die for us. But on the level that really counts,
the level of <i>will and free choice</i>, he
was firm: “Yet not what I want but what you want.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">When Jesus became human he became really human, with no
privileges. “Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with
God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself,” being born just as
human as we are, with all the weaknesses that belong to being human, sin
excepted. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with
our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are,
yet without sin” (<i>Hebrews</i> 4:15).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This
same Jesus, by taking our bodies to be his own, has also taken on our weakness
— and given us his strength. That is the rock-bottom source of our confidence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Triumph by
defeat: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Today’s
Mass is called both “Passion Sunday” and “Palm Sunday,” because it begins with
a procession in which we carry palms. We read two Gospels: the <i>Passion</i> (<b>Matthew 26:4 to 27:66</b>) and one for the procession (<b>Matthew 21: 1-11</b>), when we reenact Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem as the crowd that accompanied him spread their cloaks on
the road, cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road, shouting,
“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the
Lord!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This scene gives a key to understanding Christ’s passion and all
of his work in the Church since then: <i>the
strategy of God is that Jesus wins by losing</i>. He enters Jerusalem in
triumph to die. His defeat and death on the cross were his victory over sin and
death. And in the world today, when the Church seems most weak and defeated,
that is when God is able to do his best work in us. A poor and humiliated
Church is a healthy Church<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In our personal lives, when we feel the least faith, hope and
love, that is precisely when we may be acting most purely out of nothing but
faith, hope and love. When our feelings give us no support, but we are still
trying to do what we committed ourselves to do, we know we are persevering by
the pure grace of God. That is the most unambiguous experience of grace. It is
the ultimate verification of conversion. And it is the touchstone of dedicated
discipleship. When our feelings are crying out, “My God, why
have you abandoned me?” but we have not abandoned him, that is when we know
most surely he is near. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jesus said, “The disciple is not greater than the teacher” (<i>Matthew</i> 10:24). If we are showing up as disciples,
Jesus is showing up as Teacher, whether we feel him there or not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><u>Insight</u></b><b>: </b>In my ordinary life, when have I
gone against my feelings to persevere in something I decided to do? Were the
results good? Can I do the same with prayer?<b><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><u>Initiative</u></b><b>: </b>Decide what you will do to be a
disciple— how much time you will commit to reading, reflecting and other
learning experiences —and determine to persevere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-31030852681740952422017-04-08T11:06:00.003-05:002017-04-08T12:11:54.094-05:00April 8, 2017: Seek Unity<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>April 8, 2017<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>SATURDAY, Lent week five</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040817.cfm" target="_blank">View Today's Readings </a></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gNbbHgQqZ-E/WOkKgmpT2DI/AAAAAAAAC5g/BNfhN63mqTsW56MQMMYZCRoj6sb4dSxDwCLcB/s1600/pjp2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gNbbHgQqZ-E/WOkKgmpT2DI/AAAAAAAAC5g/BNfhN63mqTsW56MQMMYZCRoj6sb4dSxDwCLcB/s320/pjp2.jpeg" width="273" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Seek Unity</b></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Responsorial </i></span>(from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jeremiah</i> 31:10-13) <span style="color: black;">is a promise for all time</span>: </span><b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">“<i>The Lord will
guard us as a shepherd guards his flock</i>”.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ezekiel 37:21-28</b> God is promising to
restore unity to his People by uniting the tribes again as they were under King
David.<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
But it was under the kingship of the promised “Son of David” that true unity
would be restored; not just to Israel, but to the human race. The “miracle of
tongues” at Pentecost was a sign and preview of this, when God reversed the
Tower of Babel by letting people present “from every nation under heaven”
understand the apostles speaking the “language of the Spirit.”<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Paul announced God’s “plan for the fullness of time, to gather up
all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth.” Paul was sent to
the Gentiles so that through him Christ “might create in himself one new
humanity in place of the two, thus making peace”:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">So then you are no longer strangers
and aliens, but citizens with the saints and members of the household of God...
with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone... in whom you also are built
together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This unity was broken by the schism between Catholics of East and
West, and by the Protestant Reformation. We can never rest until unity is restored.
What is holding it back?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">It
is an axiom in most organizations that “the buck stops” at the top. John Paul
II may have been thinking this when he said that if his way of “exercising the
primacy” was keeping the Eastern Rites separated, he would change it. “This
is an immense task, which we cannot refuse and which I cannot carry out by
myself.” He asked for “a patient and fraternal dialogue... in which, leaving
useless controversies behind, we could listen to one another, keeping before us
only the will of Christ for his Church and allowing ourselves to be deeply
moved by his plea ’that they may all be one...’”.<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[4]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This
sets a principle for all renewal in the Church. The authorities — bishops,
pastors and lay professionals in charge of various ministries — have more power
than anyone to bring about reforms, but without the committed participation of
everyone else, lay and cleric, it will be “too little, too late.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">John 11:45-57</b><span style="color: black;"> tells us
that when the high priest said, “It is better to have one man die than the
whole nation destroyed,” he unknowingly “prophesied that Jesus would die for
the nation... and to gather into one all the dispersed children of God.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">So what are you willing to do to bring about unity? In your home?
Parish? School? Workplace? With other Christians? With Muslims” Other
non-Christians? The non-churched? What would you have to “die” to? If all are
as willing as Jesus was, then “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the Lord
will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Initiative:
Strive for unity. </span></b><span style="color: black;">Believe in each one’s grace. Hope for change. Love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">2Samuel</i> 5:1-3.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Acts</i> 2:12.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[3]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ephesians</i> 1:9-10, 2:13-22.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[4]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> See the
enchyclical <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ut Unum Sint</i>, nos. 95-96.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-12484505406275269462017-04-06T23:00:00.000-05:002017-04-08T12:12:01.996-05:00April 7, 2017: Where Do We Find Our Peace?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>April 7, 2017<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>FRIDAY, Lent week five<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040717.cfm" target="_blank"><b>View Today's Readings</b></a></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Te4NsH1bx0/WOkJNwwDazI/AAAAAAAAC5c/zHUf_Xs4dCIKm4LMfI0vcXLyfzIl66kMgCLcB/s1600/terror.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Te4NsH1bx0/WOkJNwwDazI/AAAAAAAAC5c/zHUf_Xs4dCIKm4LMfI0vcXLyfzIl66kMgCLcB/s320/terror.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Where Do We Find Our Peace?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Responsorial </i></span>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Psalm</i> 18) <span style="color: black;">is a reminder we never stop
feeling the need for: </span></span><b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">“<i>In my distress I called upon the Lord and he
heard my voice.</i>”</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Jeremiah 20:
10-13</span></b><span style="color: black;"> shows us what Jesus predicted for his disciples: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">“Terror on every side! Denounce! Let
us denounce him. Those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of
mine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jesus said, “Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the
earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">See, I am sending you out like sheep
into the midst of wolves... Beware of them.... Brother will betray brother to
death, and a father his child.... You will be hated by all because of my name.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">It takes courage to study God’s word. We may get insights we don’t
want<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>— about ourselves, others, friends
and family, the Church, the world we live in. (That first came out as a typo:
“the world we lie in.” Also true). Once we see the truth, what do we do with
it? Put it under a bushel basket? Speak it? Live it out? The last two can get
us in trouble. But Jesus calls this peace!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I have said this to you, so that in
me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I
have conquered the world!<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">The assurance of victory gives peace even in the midst of
conflict. </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In my distress I called upon the Lord and he
heard my voice</i>” — and answered, “Peace!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">John 10:
31-42 </span></b><span style="color: black;">is all about Jesus’ identity. His enemies were stoning him because
“you who are only a man are making yourself God.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">If we are honest in professing our faith, the same can be said of
us. We say we are the actual, physical body of Christ, not just God’s creatures
but his true children. His own divine life is in us, because we are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">filii in Filio</i>, “sons and daughters <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in the Son</i>.” Each of us says with St.
Paul, “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.” By
Baptism we have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“become Christ</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">And we claim that this groping, sinful “pilgrim Church” we are is
uniquely the “one true Church” of Jesus Christ! While all Christian assemblies
have something of his Church in them, we alone have all that is required to be
the full Church Jesus founded. Does that make us popular?<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jesus said, “If I do not perform my Father’s works, put no faith
in me.” We as a Church may hesitate to suggest that, but people will do it anyway.
If the “fruit of the Spirit” is not visible in us; if we don’t obviously love
God and all our neighbors; read and reflect on God’s word as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">disciples</i>; live a lifestyle different
from our culture as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">prophets</i>;
celebrate liturgy with enthusiasm and nurture one another as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">priests</i>; care for the poor and work to
establish the reign of God’s justice and peace on earth as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stewards</i> of his kingship, no proofs from Scripture or theology will
convince anyone that we actually are the living body of Jesus Christ on earth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Initiative:
Have the courage </span></b><span style="color: black;">to read, reflect, speak and do. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Be Christ</i> visibly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Luke</i> 12:51; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Matthew</i> 10:16-22; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">John</i>
16:33. See <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">John</i> 7:40-43, 15:18-20.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> See <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Romans</i> 12:1-5; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Galatians</i> 2:20; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Catechism of
the Catholic Church</i>, nos. 795, 460.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-69473458977494006802017-04-05T20:57:00.000-05:002017-04-05T20:57:51.252-05:00April 6,2017: The Commitment of Christian Life<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">April 6, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">THURSDAY, Lent week five<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040617.cfm" target="_blank">View Today's Readings</a></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H3iPv8FyTVQ/WOWglbq8X6I/AAAAAAAAC40/EcP02VPM5xglgGKSTLcptv24AkQbZIo-gCLcB/s1600/discipleship%2Bbanner-900x350.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H3iPv8FyTVQ/WOWglbq8X6I/AAAAAAAAC40/EcP02VPM5xglgGKSTLcptv24AkQbZIo-gCLcB/s320/discipleship%2Bbanner-900x350.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Commitment of Christian Life</b></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Responsorial </i></span>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Psalm</i> 105) <span style="color: black;">gives one side of the picture</span>: </span><b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“<i>The Lord remembers his covenant forever.</i>”</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Genesis<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>17: 3-9</span></b><span style="color: black;"> is a weak
promise compared to what Jesus promised those who accept his “New Covenant.” To
Abraham God promised human benefits: “I will render you fertile, make nations
of you... give to you the land where you are now as a permanent possession.”
But Jesus promises us a “posterity” alive with the life of God; and the Kingdom
of God as our “permanent possession” for all eternity. Beginning with Mary, who
gave flesh to God himself, we will bear spiritual fruit:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Blessed are you among women, and
blessed is the fruit of your womb.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Blessed are we all. Blessed is the fruit of our lives. Like Paul,
we are “in the pain of childbirth” until Christ is alive and fully formed in
every person. All we help to grow in grace are our “children.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is the fruit of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">discipleship</i>:
those who hear the word and accept it” will “bear fruit, 30, 60, 100 times
over”: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I chose you... to go and bear fruit,
fruit that will last....<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My Father is glorified by this, that
you bear much fruit and become my disciples....<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In Baptism we “died to the law” and to every human rule of life,
so that “through the body of Christ” we might “belong to another, to him who
has been raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.” This
comes through absorption in:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">the word of the truth, the gospel
that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole
world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it
and truly comprehended the grace of God.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">That is just one side of the picture: “On your part,” God asks,
“you must keep my covenant throughout the ages.” Christian life is a
commitment. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">John 8: 51-59</b> Jesus
claims to be divine: “I solemnly declare it: before Abraham came to be, I AM.”
This is the translation of YAHWEH, the self-description God gave when Moses
asked him to reveal his “name.”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As Christ’s disciples, we study, not just words, but the words of
the Word. This makes a difference in our commitment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">We made a covenant at Baptism with the Word of God. It was at the
same time a covenant with the words of God: we are committed to seek
understanding of the Word through his words. This is a “constitutive element”
of being a Christian. To “love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with
all our soul, and with all our mind,” we have to use our minds to know him. St.
Augustine said, “We cannot love what we do not know.” The conclusion is
obvious. We are committed by our baptismal covenant to be “students of the
word,” disciples of the Word expressing himself in words. </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Lord remembers his covenant forever.</i>” The question is, “Do we?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Initiative:
Face the Word. </span></b><span style="color: black;">Commit to discovering him in his words.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Luke</i> 1:42; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Galatians</i> 4:19; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mark</i>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-58124496424075806262017-04-05T10:15:00.003-05:002017-04-05T10:15:47.834-05:00April 5, 2017: Identifying False Gods<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>April 13, 2017<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>WEDNESDAY, Lent week five<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040517.cfm" target="_blank"><b>View Today's Readings</b></a></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Identifying False Gods</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>St. Ignatius of Loyola </b>defines
“three degrees of humility” — three levels of understanding about ourselves in
relationship to God. The first is: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I so subject and humble myself as to
obey the law of God in all things, so that not even were I made lord of all
creation, or to save my life here on earth, would I consent to violate a
commandment... that binds me under pain of mortal sin.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Daniel 3:
14-95 </span></b><span style="color: black;">gives an example of three young men</span> who fit that description perfectly. They
were young Jews <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of the nobility, young
men without any defect, handsome, intelligent and wise, quick to learn.... who
were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans. After three
years’ training they were to enter the king’s service (ch.1:3-5).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Smart politics: integrating the conquered into the culture. They
were made administrators of the province of Babylon. But when the king wanted
to impose religious uniformity on his kingdom, the three refused to worship his
false god. When threatened with death by fire, they replied: “If our God, whom we
serve, can save us from the white-hot furnace... may he save us! But know, O
King, that even if he will not, we will not serve your god.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">God did save them, but the point is, being unfaithful to God was
for them simply a non-negotiable. Not even to think about. That is the first
level of authentic relationship to God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The three young men learned Chaldean culture but did not abandon
their own. They remained uncompromising Jews, faithful to the Covenant. In <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">John 8: 31-42</b> Jesus argues with others
who claim the same thing. He had said, “If you live according to my teaching,
you will truly be my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set
you free.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They answer, “We are
descendants of Abraham. Never have we been slaves to anyone.” But Jesus tells
them they are: “Everyone who lives in sin is the slave of sin.” Might that
include us?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Many young Catholics, “intelligent
and wise, quick to learn....” are selected by our system for four years of
higher education, “after which they are to enter the service” of the American
dream. With great rewards. They are not asked to kneel before a golden statue.
But they may be required to subordinate their values to the god of gold. Or the
god of sex. Or the god of relativistic philosophy. Or the god of No-god-at-all.
In order to “fit in.” For the sake of religious uniformity in rejecting all
religions as divisive. If they refuse, they will be “burned.” If they accept,
they may not even know they have.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jesus gives four “if’s’” to help us
know if we are free: “If you live according to my teaching...” “If the Son
frees you” (through personal interaction with him). “If you are Abraham’s
children”: faithful to your heritage, e.g. still going to Mass... “If God is
your Father,” not just your Creator and Judge. Four benchmarks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Initiative:
Make fidelity</span></b><span style="color: black;"> non-negotiable. Refuse slavery. Identify false gods. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<i>Spiritual Exercises</i>, no. 165.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-89001853680408334832017-04-03T21:19:00.002-05:002017-04-03T21:19:56.284-05:00April 4, 2017: The Bronze Serpent<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>April 4, 2017<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TUESDAY, Lent week five<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040417.cfm" target="_blank"><b>View Today's Readings</b></a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TkTiOoCPKXc/WOMCWFya72I/AAAAAAAAC4c/KfyeoOEkkk4a9-p_DzjzeVUj_YQ2sUkGgCLcB/s1600/bronze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TkTiOoCPKXc/WOMCWFya72I/AAAAAAAAC4c/KfyeoOEkkk4a9-p_DzjzeVUj_YQ2sUkGgCLcB/s1600/bronze.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Bronze Serpent</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <i>Responsorial </i>(<i>Psalm</i> 102) tells
us what to say when we are just tired of following Christ: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“<i>O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come
to you.</i>”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In <b>Numbers 21: 4-9</b> the
people were tired of following Moses through the desert. They “complained
against God” because food and drink were scarce in the desert, and what they
got didn’t satisfy them: “We are disgusted with this wretched food.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We may not have traveled in the desert. But if we have been
disciples for very long in the true sense — “students” of God’s mind and heart
through reading and meditation — we know
what it is to be “dry.” There are times when reading God’s word is like eating
sawdust without salt. And times when any religious act, from devotions to
Eucharist, just makes us “disgusted.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes it is not that bad. But we are just bored and tired of
“putting in the time” on whatever our spiritual “fitness program” is. That is
when we pass or fail to pass the test. (Actually, most of us fail it many
times, but God keeps giving us retakes).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God doesn’t send serpents to afflict us. He doesn’t have to. Once
we have begun to “seek the face of God,” if we stop seeking it we feel the
difference. We may not fall back into previous sins (or we may), but we will
live with the sense that something is lacking in our lives. We will keep
getting little bites until we either “die” by giving up entirely, or learn to
turn to God: “<i>O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come
to you.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we know we can’t persevere just by will power (although
sometimes it will feel like that’s all we’ve got), God will give us help that
lets us appreciate everything we do as a gift of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aAlazYdIC4Y/U3IJyNWYrTI/AAAAAAAAAMA/G-2OS7iTNW4uFEFbeducT4z5lDWMsgOegCPcB/s1600/BLOG%2BWIT%2BPrayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aAlazYdIC4Y/U3IJyNWYrTI/AAAAAAAAAMA/G-2OS7iTNW4uFEFbeducT4z5lDWMsgOegCPcB/s400/BLOG%2BWIT%2BPrayer.jpg" width="271" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>John
8: 21-30</b> explains that the “bronze serpent” is the symbol of Jesus on the
cross. It teaches us discipleship is not just a human exercise. The <i>Liturgy of the Word </i>leads us to what we
celebrate in the <i>Liturgy of the Eucharist</i>:
the mystery of dying and rising in Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus said the problem with being Christian is: “You belong to
what is below — this world. I belong to what is above.” Jesus is divine; he is
God. But it took his dying and rising to reveal it: “When you <i>lift up</i> the Son of Man you will come to
realize that I AM.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up (<i>John</i> 3:14),<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be Christian is to “become Christ.” We can only do this by
looking to Jesus “lifted up” on the cross and letting ourselves be lifted up
with him by incorporation into his body at Baptism. By this we die in him and
rise to live as his own human-divine body on earth. We are <i>disciples</i> to learn how to do this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But living as Christ can only be learned by <i>surrender</i> to letting Jesus act <i>with</i>
us, in us and <i>through</i> us. When we can
no more, we look to him in whom we are and pray, “<i>O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.</i> Do what I am
doing <i>with</i> me, <i>in</i> me and <i>through</i> me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Initiative:
Say the WIT prayer</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Persevere in human efforts to be divine.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-70134516626799542432017-04-02T19:49:00.002-05:002017-04-03T21:16:19.877-05:00April 3, 2017: The Evil of Clericalism<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>April 3, 2017<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>MONDAY, Lent week five<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040317.cfm" target="_blank"><b>View Today's Readings</b></a></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5f964S2PYSw/WOGZPpGMXZI/AAAAAAAAC4I/x-54EGnEkOwQbeATNbV9Ii1v6mNnlg4sgCPcB/s1600/lady%2Bjustice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5f964S2PYSw/WOGZPpGMXZI/AAAAAAAAC4I/x-54EGnEkOwQbeATNbV9Ii1v6mNnlg4sgCPcB/s200/lady%2Bjustice.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Evil of Clericalism</span></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Responsorial </i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Psalm</i> 23) <span style="color: black;">declares all fears false except
separation from God</span>: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Though I
walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil; for you are at my side.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Daniel 13: 1-62 </span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">is a painful story to
read today, and it raises painful issues. The villains are “elders,” which in
Greek is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">presbyteros</i>, the word which
became “priest” in English. In the context of our world, the men who tried to
rape Susanna were priests. Worse than that, they were “judges<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">,</i>” which makes them closer to bishops.
Although Suzanna was a married woman, we cannot read this without feeling the
shadow of the disgrace that Catholic priests and bishops brought upon the
Church through commission, collusion or cover-up in the recently unveiled
horror of child-abuse.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
relevance and practical value of the story for us lies in the reason why
Susanna was found guilty. With her unblemished reputation, the people might not
have accepted the testimony of two ordinary men, But her accusers had the
credibility that two bishops or cardinals would have in a Church hearing today.
Any lawyer will tell you that, although justice is supposed to be blind,
justice through a jury can be swayed by the prestige of the witnesses.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
child-abuse horror is a story of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">clericalism</i>,
defined as the unmerited assumption that priests and bishops are somehow more
sacred and more holy than ordinary people. Priests could prey on children
because the children were in awe of them as representatives of God. Parents
reported abusers to the bishop because they thought priests too sacred to be
handed over to the police. And they trusted — mistakenly — that the bishop
would handle the matter on a higher, holier level than the government. No one
knows what the bishops thought, because before the Irish exposure none was ever
made accountable, even by the Pope. Like the judges who accused Susanna, they
were initially assumed to be beyond reproach. Hopefully, we will never make that
mistake again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We
have learned a bitter lesson. In God’s human-divine Church, no rank, position,
function, even sacramentally bestowed, makes anyone holier or more to be
trusted <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a-priori</i> than anyone else.
Our theology tells us the sacraments produce their result independently of the
holiness of the minister. That also should tell us the holiness of the minister
is not to be presumed. What Jesus said of true and false prophets is also true
of good and bad clerics: “You will know them by their fruits.”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">In <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">John 8: 1-11</b> Jesus
shows us that it is also wrong to presume anyone is “bad,” even a sinner
“caught in the act” of adultery. Jesus said to the woman, “I do not condemn
you.” But he did condemn the action: “From now on, avoid this sin.” No matter
what we do, Jesus will not forsake us: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Though I
walk in the valley of darkness... you are at my side.</i>” <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">Initiative:
Put aside prejudice</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">, whether for or against any person. Speak truth. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Matthew</i> 7:15-20.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-67282311211105708102017-04-02T12:10:00.002-05:002017-04-02T12:10:48.307-05:00April 2, 2017: Conversion to Being Divine<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">April
2, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">THE
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT (Year A)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040217.cfm" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">View Today's Readings</span></b></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F97zerH4xEc/WOEweBWUtNI/AAAAAAAAC3s/BHpwCTGz4NA21Dr6GhLUyJx7h4XXblA6ACLcB/s1600/Ezek%2B37.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F97zerH4xEc/WOEweBWUtNI/AAAAAAAAC3s/BHpwCTGz4NA21Dr6GhLUyJx7h4XXblA6ACLcB/s1600/Ezek%2B37.gif" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pCdvbMJnawM/WOEwiX426WI/AAAAAAAAC3w/urXuoRinjvEB7VA7ATyAAJGv4MxQ94NCQCLcB/s1600/Ezek%2B37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pCdvbMJnawM/WOEwiX426WI/AAAAAAAAC3w/urXuoRinjvEB7VA7ATyAAJGv4MxQ94NCQCLcB/s200/Ezek%2B37.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Conversion
to Being Divine<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Inventory<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Entrance Antiphon</i> is a prayer of
trust: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Give me
justice, O God… Rescue me from the deceitful and the unjust</span></i><span style="color: black;">”</span> (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Psalm</i>
43). Do I see this happening?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judging by
what I see going on in the world, does it seem that Jesus is winning or losing?
Christians believe Jesus triumphed over those who crucified him by rising from
the dead. Do I see any visible evidence of his resurrection around me today
that encourages me to believe in his victory? Am I looking the right way?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Input<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Opening Prayer</i> we ask to be like
God: “Father, help us to be like Christ your Son.” We are the risen body of
Jesus on earth. It is in and through us that he is winning the battle against
evil today. What do I need to do in order to let him act and win through me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Resurrection is us:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ezekiel 37: 12-14 </b>does not mention what
God will do to his enemies or ours. Ezekiel<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
</b>only speaks of what God will do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for</i>
us: “I will open your graves and have you rise from them…. I will put my spirit
in you that you may live.” This was the way Jesus triumphed after his
crucifixion: he did not obliterate his enemies; he just rose from the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We
know Jesus is triumphing in us, not from what we see happening in the world
around us, but from what we see happening within ourselves. “I will put my
spirit in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i> that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i> may live…. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thus you shall know</i> that I am the Lord.” We know Jesus is Lord when
we experience the “fruit of the Spirit” in our lives. The fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy and peace (see <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Galatians</i>
5:22).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Responsorial </i>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Psalm</i> 130) puts our focus on God as giving life, not taking
revenge: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">For
with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem</span></i>”
(or “fullness of redemption”). God shows his power in saving, in converting, in
redeeming, not in condemning and destroying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This
is a lesson the first disciples of Jesus found hard to learn, and we do too.
When a Samaritan town would not give Jesus lodging for the night, “h<span style="color: black;">is disciples James and John said, ‘Lord, do you want us to
command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’” Jesus told them they
were wrong and just “went on to another village” (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Luke</i> 9: 52-57). Jesus came, not to destroy but to save. If we want
to reveal ourselves as his risen body on earth, we need to cultivate within
ourselves, as his disciples, the same attitude Jesus had. Faced with injustice
or hostility, our immediate response should not be, “How can I fight back?” It
should be life-giving: “How can I help, how can I heal this person?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Life “in the Spirit”<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Romans 8: 8-11 </b>makes clear that there
is a radical difference between thinking and living in the way that seems most
natural to us — the way people in our society seem to think, the way we grew up
thinking, the way our culture conditions us to think and react — and the way Jesus
thinks and acts. St. Paul calls the first way “living in the flesh,” following
what our physical contact with others in human society has programmed us to
think and do. He calls the second way “living in the Spirit,” following what
our experience of the Spirit in our hearts impels us to do. Paul says, “<span style="color: black;">those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” They might
do a lot of good things, but they can’t integrally live and impact the world in
the way Jesus needs them to do if they are going to be most effective in
helping him establish the reign of God on earth. “But you are not in the
flesh,” Paul says to those who are living the life of grace and listening to
Jesus as disciples. “You are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is the way we experience Jesus’ triumph and Jesus’ life in
us: “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who
raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through
his Spirit that dwells in you.” This is not just physical life: we will find
that we “come alive” in faith, hope and love and can do Christ’s work in the
world as his living body, enlightened and strengthened by his Spirit. Then we
ourselves will be the visible proof of Jesus resurrection, because we will be
living manifestly by his Spirit as his risen body on earth. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“Lazarus, come out!” <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">But we have to hear his voice. And we can. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">John 11: 1-45 </b>tells us that Lazarus was four days in the tomb;
nevertheless, in response to the voice of Jesus he “came out,” though his hands
and feet were “bound with strips of cloth.” If we let the words of Jesus call
us forth, we too will “come out” of whatever binds us and keeps us in darkness
or in the death of inertia. We will experience Christ’s triumph and his “great
power to redeem” through the divine life he shares with us and the action of
his Spirit within us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">But for this to happen we have to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hear his words.</i> We need to become <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">disciples</i>, learners, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">listen</i>
to Jesus. We need to reflect on his words and let them call us to life. His
words open us to the Spirit, and the Spirit gives us life. </span>“<span style="color: black;">For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">great power to redeem</i>.</span>”<span style="color: black;"> We have to believe this enough to dedicate ourselves to
learning from him as committed students of his mind and heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Insight:</u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></b><span style="color: black;">Do I live more by the “Spirit” or by
the “flesh”? When have I experienced the light and power of the Spirit in me?</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Initiative</u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Read
Scripture every day — even if only for five minutes — and let it challenge the
attitudes and assumptions you grew up with.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-28043532039790972792017-04-02T08:36:00.003-05:002017-04-02T08:36:25.905-05:00Weekly Recap: Lent Week 4<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">FOR
REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION: LENT WEEK FOUR<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">To be
authentic disciples</span></b><span style="color: black;"> of Jesus, we have to convert to following a new guidance system:
the divine light of God within us instead of the natural light of human reason
alone. This means living lives that are not just human but divine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Invitation:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jesus
offers to “speak peace to a sinful world,” and to “teach us,” so that “our
faith, hope and love may turn hatred into love, conflict into peace, death into
eternal life” and “bring to the human race the gift of reconciliation.” If we
love what Jesus offers us in the Church and believe in it, we will seek it as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">disciples</i>, as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">students</i> eager to learn and be nourished by God’s words.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ask yourself in prayer
and others in discussion</b>, for each statement below: “Do you see this in the
Scripture reading? What response does it invite?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sunday:</b> If we love the Church,
we will seek nourishment from her and we will find it. We just have to know
where to look.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">To be disciples of Jesus, it is not enough to accept and do what
he tells us. We have to learn how to look at things as he does.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Monday:</b>: The Church is like a
mother to us: loving, but conscientious. Mothers set the rules, keep family
life ordered. It is necessary. But it isn’t the whole picture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Tuesday:</span></b><span style="color: black;"> Those most
persecuted t by others in the Church are the “prophets” — those who upset
complacency by acting or speaking in a way that calls long-standing assumptions
into question<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wednesday: </b><span style="color: black;">Without the
intimacy of personal interaction with God, we fall back on the impersonal
relationship of rules, trying to “save ourselves” without his help.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The worst deception is to deny the prophetic gift out of fear of
mistakes and trust in nothing but slavish obedience to laws. This is to deny
the faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Thursday: </span></b><span style="color: black;">God does not
want to save the world unilaterally. He wants humans to pray for each other.
Then what God does is our gift as well as his.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Friday: </span></b><span style="color: black;">In today’s
educated Church, every believer is challenged to ask about every Church
doctrine and practice, “Where does it come from?” If we don’t, we will become a
community of blind led by the blind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Saturday: </span></b><span style="color: black;">Our ultimate
confidence is in the word of God and carefully discerned enlightenment by the
Holy Spirit. Unqualified trust in anything else, besides the reliable but rare
“defined’ dogmas of the Church, is idolatry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Decisions:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Obey the rules, but interpret them according to the Father’s
heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Believe Scripture as divine revelation. Read it as human dialogue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Be a responsible believer. Know the origin of what you believe and
do.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-56692680222244291892017-03-31T23:00:00.000-05:002017-03-31T23:00:09.994-05:00April 1, 2017: God Wins<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>April 1, 2017<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>SATURDAY, Lent Week Four</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040117.cfm" target="_blank">View Today's Readings</a></b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KCIfFYCZ8Lk/WN5gB01RZYI/AAAAAAAAC3U/6xYarqxsYAgad0qvo-SjjziKdEoAH6zDwCLcB/s1600/god%2Bwins.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KCIfFYCZ8Lk/WN5gB01RZYI/AAAAAAAAC3U/6xYarqxsYAgad0qvo-SjjziKdEoAH6zDwCLcB/s1600/god%2Bwins.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>God Wins</b></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Responsorial </i></span>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Psalm</i> 7) <span style="color: black;">tells us the ruling principle of
discipleship</span>: </span><b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">“<i>O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.</i>”</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">The starting point of discipleship is an act of trust in God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our security is rooted, not in acceptance by
others, not in conformity to whatever group in the Church seems most solid and
reliable, not even in the approval of popes and bishops, who frequently in
history have turned a blind eye to abuses and “stoned the prophets” God sent to
them. Our ultimate confidence is in the word of God and carefully discerned
enlightenment by the Holy Spirit. To give unqualified trust to anything else,
besides the reliable but rare “defined’ dogmas of the Church, is idolatry. </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.</i>”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Jeremiah 11:
18-20</span></b><span style="color: black;"> tells us we don’t always know who is speaking or acting against
us. “I, like a trusting lamb led to the slaughter, had not realized they were
hatching plots against me.” It is not paranoia to think that it happens today.
A priest “on loan” to an American diocese was denounced in a letter from the
bishop’s office in his home diocese for sexual misconduct with a consenting
adult. The American bishop told his Chancellor to put him on the next plane
home. The Chancellor asked if he could check the story first and found proof
the letter was a forgery.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Priests and others are frequently denounced to bishops for
statements some hearer judged “heretical” (which today almost always means
“liberal”). Most bishops simply send the letter to the accused for a response.
But some prominent authors and theologians condemned and “silenced” by Rome
have complained that they were never allowed to confront their accusers or see
the actual text of the accusations. There has been and still is an exaggerated
cult of “secrecy” in some areas of Church government.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">So what? We live with the truth that we are a sinful, saintly
Church. Not to worry. Eventually, God wins. </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">O Lord,
my God, in you I take refuge.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">John 7: 40-53</b>
everybody is arguing about the wrong questions — except the temple guards, who
when asked why they didn’t carry out orders and arrest Jesus, just said, “No
man ever spoke like that before.” But others argued that he wasn’t born in the
right place, or accepted by the Sanhedrin (the religious authorities) or the
Pharisees (considered the educated and “fervent”), but only by “this lot, that
knows nothing about the law — and they are lost anyway.” Nicodemus pointed out
it was all irrelevant. “Since when does our law condemn anyone without first
knowing him and knowing the facts?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">All the false arguments above are paralleled in the Church today.
Disciples are those who seek to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know
Jesus</i> (and any accused) and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> the
facts.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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Be a disciple of Jesus. </span></b><span style="color: black;">Neither accept nor reject without involving him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></span></a> See <i>Mathew</i> 5:12; 23:29-39. The worst
opponents of Jesus were the established teachers of religion (the “scribes”),
the approved “law and order” party (the Pharisees), and the “chief priests.”
What they all had in common was power and prestige.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-51260689504392244222017-03-30T23:55:00.000-05:002017-03-30T23:55:00.680-05:00March 31, 2017: Challenge of the Church's Teachings<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Friday, Lent Week Four</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Challenge of the Church's Teachings</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">“</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">” </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">What this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Responsorial </i></span>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Psalm</i> 34) <span style="color: black;">tells us sometimes appears to
be contrary to appearances, especially to unbelievers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Wisdom 2:
1-22</span></b><span style="color: black;"> lists some reasons why many nonbelievers, now as well as then,
find even those who are authentically religious “obnoxious.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black;">“They
reproach us” for going against the law of God. But we should. We can’t judge
people’s consciences, but when something is wrong we should say so.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black;">“They
profess to have knowledge of God.” Of course. Religion is empty without it. But
this is not pride; the knowledge is a gift, not an accomplishment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black;">“Their life
is not like others’ — they are different.” In a religious culture it is the
nonbelievers who would be different — and they would fight for the right to be
so! The emotion here is not consistent with logic<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black;">They “hold
aloof from our paths as from things impure.” The question is, “Are they impure?”
The unbelievers “hold aloof” from religious services. So?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black;">They “call
blest the destiny of the just.” Yes. And since believers aren’t always “blest”
by this world’s standards, this calls the standards into question: the core
values that unbelievers live for. Someone is a fool.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black;">They “boast
that God is their Father.” Yes, but it isn’t a boast. It is a gift offered to
everyone, and its first effect is humility: “O Lord, I am not worthy.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">The unbelievers’ biggest mistake is to assume God will protect the
just from being delivered over to their enemies. Jesus’ crucifixion settled
that question. But it only makes sense if there is “a recompense of holiness”
after death. The bottom line (omitted in the reading) is: “For God created
human beings to be immortal; he made them as an image of his own nature.” Our
stand on that governs our answer to everything else. </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">An advantage to reading Scripture is that it raises all sorts of
questions that are tossed about but not really confronted elsewhere. It helps
to confront them, getting help from the word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">John 7:
1-30:</span></b><span style="color: black;"> When Jesus calls people to confront the question of his origins —
“So you know me...?” — all he explains is, “I was sent.” We can like or
dislike, understand or misunderstand all sorts of things Jesus teaches. But the
only important question is whether God speaks in him. If he does, belief is settled.
All that remains is to try to understand, and ask how to put it into practice.
That is the work of disciples.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In a theology exam, the first question asked about every Church
doctrine and practice is, “Where does it come from?” Scripture? A Church council?
The personal viewpoint of a pope, bishop or scholar? The common consensus of
the faithful? Or just unexamined conventional hearsay? To give a doctrine more
authority than it has is just as bad as giving it less.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In today’s educated Church, every believer is challenged to ask
those questions. If we don’t, we will become a community of blind led by the
blind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Initiative:
Be a responsible believer. </span></span></b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Know the origin of what you believe and do.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-73219035933283762222017-03-29T23:58:00.000-05:002017-03-29T23:58:12.497-05:00March 30: 2017: Arguing with God<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 96.0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>March 30, 2017<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Thursday, Lent Week Four<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/033017.cfm" target="_blank">View Today's Readings</a></b></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kvNkQEU0ytI/WNvnsv_Y5TI/AAAAAAAAC20/X3PwmNRHQ0AR1RQolG9z23bySQPC1Ve9ACLcB/s1600/Argue-400x400.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kvNkQEU0ytI/WNvnsv_Y5TI/AAAAAAAAC20/X3PwmNRHQ0AR1RQolG9z23bySQPC1Ve9ACLcB/s200/Argue-400x400.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Arguing with God</span></b></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“<i>Lord, remember us,
for the love you bear your people</i>.” </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">The <i>Responsorial </i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">(</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">Psalm</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;"> 106) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">presumes the value of prayer</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;"> Now we see an
example of it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Exodus 32: 7-14</b> Moses
gives God good advice, reminds him of what God seems to have forgotten, and
gets God to change his mind about what he had planned to do. Yeah, right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is a good example of the way God inspires the Scripture
writers. He inspires them with truth, but truth expressed in the kind of words
and images the writers understood, and that the people for whom they were
writing would understand. Sometimes a story incorporates assumptions everyone
had that were false, but which it was not yet time to challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">From our way of seeing things, our prayer does affect what God
does. God already knows from all eternity what he is going to do, but he has
made some of it conditional on our asking for it. Why? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">God does not want to save the world unilaterally. He wants humans
to have a part, real part, in it. One way in our power is to pray for each
other. Then God can say, truly, that what he does is our gift as well as his.
We ask, God answers, and we are joined in love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Also, if we “argue” with God, as Moses did, it lets God inspire us
with questions and answers that lead us to clearer understanding of ourselves
and him. God is a teacher; we are disciples. Disciples learn through dialogue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">John 5: 31-47</b> Jesus
is trying to dialogue, except that it takes two to tango, and Pharisees never
answer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jesus gives four reasons for believing in him and seven why people
don’t.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Those who bear witness to Jesus are: 1. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">John</i> the Baptizer, whose life made people trust him; 2. the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">works</i> (good deeds and miracles) Jesus
performs; 3. the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Father</i> himself; 4.
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Scriptures</i>, and specifically
Moses.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">People refuse to believe because 1. God’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">word</i> is not abiding in their hearts; 2. and this is because of
their free <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">choice</i> not to accept
Jesus, the “one God has sent”; 3. they don’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">desire</i> eternal life enough to come to Jesus for it; 4. they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">accept others</i> who do not come in the
name of God; 5. they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">accept</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">praise</i> from one another; 6. they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do not seek</i> the glory that comes from God;
7. they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">don’t believe Moses</i> or the
Scriptures.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Later, Jesus will specify that all the reasons for believing in
him are secondary to the testimony the Father and Spirit give within the hearts
of those who are open. “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in
me; but if you do not, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">then believe</i>
me because of the works themselves.” Those whose hearts are good will just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i>.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">The readings in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Liturgy
of the Word</i> are intended to encourage <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">reflection</i>.
So take time to go through the “four and seven” above. See which apply to you.</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span><!--[endif]--></span></a></span><span style="color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Initiative:
Believe Scripture</span></b><span style="color: black;"> as divine revelation. Read it as human dialogue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">John</i> 3:20-21, 6:44-45, 8:42, 10:38,
14:11.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">General
Instruction on the Roman Missal, </i>no.
56. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-69797330092162807082017-03-29T08:27:00.002-05:002017-03-29T08:27:55.733-05:00March 29, 2017: Countering Phariseeism<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>March 29, 2017<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Wednesday, Lent Week Four</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032917.cfm" target="_blank">View Today's Readings</a></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fQiUECvsNP4/WNu2U03RCqI/AAAAAAAAC2k/jCAvx1nddtoFMBjPIb_XJJwISZ6CajMTgCLcB/s1600/kind.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fQiUECvsNP4/WNu2U03RCqI/AAAAAAAAC2k/jCAvx1nddtoFMBjPIb_XJJwISZ6CajMTgCLcB/s320/kind.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Countering Phariseeism</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <i>Responsorial </i>(<i>Psalm</i> 145) reminds
us that "the Lord is kind and merciful." In contrast, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Phariseeism” is legalism: a focus on rules with desire to enforce them for others. It is never joyful, never nurturing, never loving. There is always underlying anger in it. And unconscious resentment, <i>which surfaces in anger against those who are not rule-bound. </i>Paul fought the “false believers” who “slipped in to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might enslave us.”</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/lmcbe/Dropbox/IIC%20-%20Shared%20folders%20from%20DK/LMB%20Shared%20Stuff/BLOG%20FE%205%20'17%20formatted.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" title="">[1]</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Phariseeism feeds on fear. And a sense of rejection. And
unacknowledged anger at abandonment. We don’t say, but we feel, “The Lord has
forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” Without the intimacy of personal
interaction with God, we fall back on the impersonal relationship of rules. We
will “save ourselves” without his help. We will keep the rules so strictly that
our “righteousness” will be our refuge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Isaiah
49: 8-15 </b>counters this by describing God’s closeness and saving love. “In a
time of favor I answer you... I help you.” God addresses those whose sense of
isolation from him has locked them into the defensive posture of legalism:
“Saying to the prisoners: ‘Come out!’... For he who pities them leads them and
guides them beside springs of water.” Stop focusing on rules. Drink from the
spring of God’s own heart, revealed in his words. Read. Meditate. Pray. Don’t
be so afraid. Your fear of sin, in the absence of reliance on God, drives you
into the fortress-prison of rigid self-discipline. God will “cut a road”
through all that blocks you from him. He has not abandoned you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can a mother forget her
infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even should she forget, I will
never forget you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In <b>John 5: 17-30</b> Jesus
defends his own freedom against those who persecuted him for healing on the
Sabbath. He claims to be acting by a higher law: the law of <i>union</i>, of shared life with the Father
who acts with him, in him and through him: “The Son cannot do anything by
himself... only what he sees the Father doing”— and doing in him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More: “Just as the Father possesses life in himself, so has he
granted it to the Son to have life in himself.” And Jesus can share this life with
humans: “The Son grants life to whom he wishes.... The one who hears my word...
possesses eternal life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <i>prophets</i> claim to
act by the Light and Life of God within them. They can be deceived. But the
worst deception is to deny the prophetic gift entirely and trust in nothing but
slavish obedience to laws. This is to deny the faith. By Baptism we share in
the life of God. We are anointed, consecrated by God as “priests, prophets and
kings” (responsible stewards of his kingship). The fear that denies freedom to
let Christ act <i>with</i> us, <i>in</i> us and <i>through</i> us is darkness overshadowing faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Initiative: Be what you are:</b> alive with the life of
God. Act in union with God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/lmcbe/Dropbox/IIC%20-%20Shared%20folders%20from%20DK/LMB%20Shared%20Stuff/BLOG%20FE%205%20'17%20formatted.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
<i>Galatians</i> 2:4.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-60753164277665689712017-03-27T21:52:00.005-05:002017-03-27T21:52:41.681-05:00March 28, 2017: “The mighty Lord is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">March 28, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tuesday, Lent Week Four<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BpCmL5KfM0k/WNnP8EDaI1I/AAAAAAAAC2M/lZQyuFuGpUYSfe9_0Bjr7LomouOvmSiNQCLcB/s1600/River%2BRuns%2Bthrough%2Bit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BpCmL5KfM0k/WNnP8EDaI1I/AAAAAAAAC2M/lZQyuFuGpUYSfe9_0Bjr7LomouOvmSiNQCLcB/s320/River%2BRuns%2Bthrough%2Bit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“<i>The mighty Lord is with us; </i></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>the God of Jacob
is our refuge.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <i>Responsorial </i>(<i>Psalm</i> 46) tells us to trust. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ezekiel
47: 1-12</b> is about water, a symbol of the life God gives in Baptism. All
who have this life within them should be sources of life for others: “Wherever
the river flows, every living creature that can multiply shall live.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Picture it: a clean, flowing river. On both banks, green plants,
flowers, crops and trees. This is the way the world should look, wherever
Christians are. At least to those who have eyes to see the Life he gives. “I
appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus used this same image with the woman of Samaria: “If you knew
the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you
would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” Later he said:
“Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” Those who
receive life are to give life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John continues: “Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to
receive.” Jesus had said, “It is the spirit that gives life... The words that I
have spoken to you are spirit and life.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/lmcbe/Dropbox/IIC%20-%20Shared%20folders%20from%20DK/LMB%20Shared%20Stuff/BLOG%20FE%205%20'17%20formatted.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The “daily way” to receive and increase God’s life within us — and
transmit it to others — is to read God’s <i>words</i>,
praying for enlightenment by his Holy Spirit. To do this regularly is to be a <i>disciple</i>. In every Mass the <i>Liturgy of the Word</i> reminds and calls us
to this. What this reading does is give us motivation: by opening ourselves to
the “water of life” by reflecting on God’s words, we will become fountains of
life for others. Is that worth investing time in? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>John
5: 1-16</b> ends with sobering statement: “It was because Jesus did things
such things on the Sabbath that they began to persecute him.” We want to
scream: “What things? Healing a sick man? Anyone who would persecute a person
for that is the one who is sick!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But it happens every day. Who within the Church gets persecuted
the most by others in the Church, laity as well as officials? Isn’t it the
“prophets” — those who upset complacency by acting or speaking in a way that
calls our assumptions into question? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What did you think of yesterday’s reflection? “It was bad,
dangerous! It said it’s okay to miss Mass on Sunday!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is that all you saw? Or did you see God as a wise, loving Father
who will dispense with a rule at times to help someone love the Mass and him
more? Any priest can dispense from Mass for a good reason. Do we need an
authority to make that judgment for us? Or can we look at God’s heart and make
it for ourselves? The answer to that question is the “litmus test” of
Phariseeism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If the comfortable are afflicted by what comforts the afflicted,
they have a problem. It is probably fear of human freedom exercised in
decisions.<i> <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Initiative:
Remember: </b><i>“The mighty Lord
is with us.” </i>Trust
him to lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
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</span><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
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<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/lmcbe/Dropbox/IIC%20-%20Shared%20folders%20from%20DK/LMB%20Shared%20Stuff/BLOG%20FE%205%20'17%20formatted.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
<i>John</i> 4:10, 6:63, 7:37-39; 15:16.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-21071973584252932632017-03-27T07:20:00.000-05:002017-03-27T07:23:22.917-05:00March 27, 2017: “I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me”<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>March 27, 2017<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Monday, Lent Week Four</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032717.cfm" target="_blank">View Today's Readings</a></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6YZU5DtsTMU/WNkENP1lt1I/AAAAAAAAC10/KVbzP7_ZIEIYdzuS7ay06DYgEyJE-VtrwCLcB/s1600/John.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6YZU5DtsTMU/WNkENP1lt1I/AAAAAAAAC10/KVbzP7_ZIEIYdzuS7ay06DYgEyJE-VtrwCLcB/s320/John.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“<i>I will praise you, Lord, for you have
rescued me</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <i>Responsorial </i>(<i>Psalm</i> 30) is
an acknowledgement each one of us needs to make. Frequently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What kind of God comes through in <b>Isaiah
65: 17-21</b>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lo, I am about to create a new heavens and
a new earth.... There shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create.
For I create Jerusalem [read “the Church”] to be a joy, and its people to be a
delight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Larry,
a Baptist minister, told at a dinner party how his loving wife was the one who
kept order in the family. She got their daughter Jane off to school, regulated
the TV, and kept the candy down. But Larry didn’t conform: “I just gave Jane
everything she wanted.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One
morning, when his wife left for a trip, Jane said, “I don’t want to go to
school today.” “Great,” Larry laughed, “Let’s take a holiday!” The other
mothers at table all looked horrified as he told how they just stayed home for
the rest of the week. Watched television. Ate junk food. Had a ball.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before
his wife’s return Larry suggested to Jane, “You know, there are some things
mommy doesn’t need to hear.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Isn’t
the Church like a mother to us? Loving, but conscientious. Mothers set the
rules. They keep family life ordered. That is their job. It is necessary. But
it isn’t the whole picture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Can
you see God the Father acting like this Baptism minister? One Sunday you wake
up, see glorious weather outside, and say to the Father, “I don’t want to go to
Mass today.” Can you imagine God the Father laughing and saying, “Fine! Let’s
take a holiday!” And making sure you
have one of the most enjoyable days of your life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do
you see disapproving glances among those who read this? But wouldn’t you guess
Jane did not follow the rebellious “minister’s daughter syndrome” when she
became adult? Wouldn’t you bet she is still going to church?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please
don’t tell anybody you read this. There are some things everybody doesn’t need
to hear!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How does Jesus come through in <b>John 4:43-54</b>? According to the “rules” the official didn’t qualify
for a miracle. Jesus’ standard remark to those he cured was: “Your faith has
made you well.... According to your faith let it be done to you.” Jesus
reproached the official for lacking it: “Unless you people see signs and
wonders, you do not believe.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But the official saw more in Jesus than one who lived by rules,
even his own! He appealed directly to Christ’s heart, the law of all laws, love
that gives life: “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said, “Return
home. Your son will live.” Then he believed. In Christ’s love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The man believes “the word spoken to him.”
...He had [not] acquired perfect faith, but it was a beginning..... The cure
appears to be not so much the cause of the man’s faith [as] its consequence;
signs and faith in the word go together.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> <a href="file:///C:/Users/lmcbe/Dropbox/IIC%20-%20Shared%20folders%20from%20DK/LMB%20Shared%20Stuff/BLOG%20FE%205%20'17%20formatted.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Love
won his faith. Hearing God’s word with faith in his love is <i><b>discipleship</b></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Initiative:
Obey the rules, but... </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">interpret them according to the Father’s
heart.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
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<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/lmcbe/Dropbox/IIC%20-%20Shared%20folders%20from%20DK/LMB%20Shared%20Stuff/BLOG%20FE%205%20'17%20formatted.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
See <i>Matthew</i> 9:22.29; 17:20; 21:21-22;
<i>John</i> 10:10; 21:15-18; <i>Jerome Biblical Commentary.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-21716169796949192682017-03-25T23:00:00.000-05:002017-03-26T14:19:12.851-05:00March 26, 2017: Conversion to a New Guidance System<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>March
26, 2017<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (Year A)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032617.cfm" target="_blank">View Today's Readings</a></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iu8NyRQK3eE/WNgUHkvrQBI/AAAAAAAAC1k/4fhyxIjVacwY9M9L2GmSWgnyrbMDF8NGgCLcB/s1600/man-born-blind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iu8NyRQK3eE/WNgUHkvrQBI/AAAAAAAAC1k/4fhyxIjVacwY9M9L2GmSWgnyrbMDF8NGgCLcB/s320/man-born-blind.jpg" width="269" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Conversion
to a New Guidance System<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inventory<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How
do I make most of my decisions? Is it by common sense? By applying rules and
doctrines to situations? By reflecting on things in the light of Scripture? By
trying to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit in my heart? <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Input<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
<i>Entrance Antiphon</i> calls us to rejoice
in the Church (the new Jerusalem): “Be glad for her, you who love her; rejoice
with her, you who mourned for her, and you will find contentment at her
consoling breasts.” We may see many faults in the Church to mourn over. But if
we love her, we will seek nourishment from her and we will find it. We just
have to know where to look. And we have to look with the eyes of faith. This is
to use God’s guidance system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
the <i>Opening Prayer</i> w<i>e </i>declare to the “Father of peace” that
we are indeed joyful in our relationship with “your Son Jesus Christ.” We
follow the Church through the season of Lent and into Easter “with the
eagerness of faith and love,” knowing that we are being led into the fullness
of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through
God’s eyes: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
<i>Responsorial</i> (<i>Psalm</i> 23) calls us to believe and affirm with faith that, in spite
of all appearances, “<i>the Lord is our
shepherd; there is nothing we shall want.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1Samuel 16: 1-13 </b>teaches us not to
judge by appearances: “for the LORD does not see as
mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the
heart.” If we want to be disciples of Jesus, it is not enough to accept what he
sees and tells us; we have to learn how to look at things as he does.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a learning process here — we have to form the human habit
of looking at things as God does — but first and foremost this is a gift of
God. It is only by the divine gift of faith that we can share in God’s act of
knowing. And this is what Christian insight is: seeing by sharing in what
Christ within us sees. To be authentic disciples of Jesus, we have to convert
to following a new guidance system: the divine light of God within us instead
of the natural light of human reason alone. <i>The
Lord is our shepherd</i>.
If we let him show us truth and guide us,<i>
there is nothing we shall want.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
Light of Life: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ephesians 5: 8-14</b> insists that we
must recognize the difference between the guidance of Jesus and the light of
this world, which shines through our cultural conditioning and the current
trends and values in society. This includes the brilliance of shortsighted
intellectuals who, in spite of their impressive knowledge are blind to what
even the natural light of reason could tell them about God. In contrast to them
St. Paul tells believers, “Once you were darkness,
but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is not a rejection of human reason. As disciples of
God-made-human in Jesus we accept everything human as good. But it is a <i>transcendence</i> of the human, a “going
beyond” what is merely human to live and see and act on the level of God. To be
disciples of the divine-human Jesus we have to convert to living lives that are
not just human but divine. The Lord is our shepherd; he leads us, not only
along “right paths,” but to pastures our earthly minds cannot even dream of. He
came that we might “have life and have it to the full” (<i>John</i> 10:10). But our life, our joy, can only be filled by what
addresses our capacity for total truth, total goodness, total love. It is only
through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that our “cup overflows.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Light
in the world <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An
underlying theme of <b>John 9: 1-41</b> is that the light of God is available <i>on earth</i>, and we come into it through down-to-earth human actions.
When Jesus opened the eyes of the man born blind he “spat on the ground and
made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes.” This is so
earthy it shocks us; we would expect something more hygienic from God! Then he
told the man, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” There wasn’t going to be any
miracle until the man took a bath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All this was to emphasize that we open ourselves to the divine by
doing human things. We interact with a very human Church. We listen with our
ears, read with our eyes, think with our brains, make decisions with our wills,
carry them out into action with our hands and feet. God doesn’t just turn us on
like light bulbs. To come into the light we have to be <i>disciples</i>, which means <i>active
learners.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John said, “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming
into the <i>world</i>” (<i>John</i> 1:9). Jesus comes from above, but we meet him on ground level.
We find him in “word and sacrament,” by gathering with other physical bodies
for worship, through serious engagement with Jesus enlightening us through
preachers, teachers and discussion groups. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The once-blind man asked the Pharisees, “Do you also want to
become his disciples?” That is the question this Gospel asks us. How will I
answer?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Insight</u></b><b>: </b>What human things do I need to
do in order to open myself more to the divine light of Christ? How can I use my
eyes, ears, mouth, hands and feet?<b><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Initiative</u></b><b>: </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Get specific about how you
will seek encounter with Christ through “word and sacrament.” How will you use
Scripture, Eucharist, Confession? How will you look for Christ in the Christian
community? Through what kind of interaction?</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250000521281668188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-468221256591900939.post-39988608831292235272017-03-24T23:55:00.000-05:002017-03-24T23:55:02.307-05:00March 25, 2017: “Here am I, Lord, I come to do your will”<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>March 25 2017<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Feast of the Annunciation<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032517.cfm" target="_blank"><b>View Today's Readings</b></a></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ntMK3tuWIAQ/WNGfR-1gZuI/AAAAAAAAC1A/EmxTfGjwuEU-S_fRAqf-bDjxTdoE9rDPQCLcB/s1600/annunciation-orthodox-mosaic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ntMK3tuWIAQ/WNGfR-1gZuI/AAAAAAAAC1A/EmxTfGjwuEU-S_fRAqf-bDjxTdoE9rDPQCLcB/s320/annunciation-orthodox-mosaic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“<i>Here am I, Lord, I come to do your will</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Responsorial</i>: Psalm 40)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The
Church applies to Mary the promise made to Ahaz in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Isaiah 7:10-14</b>: “The Lord himself will give you this sign: the
young woman [literally “virgin”] shall be with child and bear a son...”?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.7pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The basic meaning of the sign in
biblical thought is the symbol which indicates the existence or the presence of
that which it signifies; it directs the attention to the reality signified.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Church is the “symbol” the “sacrament,” which indicates the
existence and presence of Jesus on earth. And calls attention to him.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Whenever he is asked for a sign, Jesus says emphatically that “no
sign” will be given but the “sign of Jonah.” Except once. When asked to send
“manna from heaven,” he promised the Eucharist.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The risen body of Jesus was a sign to those
who saw him, and is still a sign to those who see him present in Eucharist.
Since Jesus’ ascension into heaven the “sign of Jonah” is the Church, the
visible body of Jesus risen and active in his members.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Church, Eucharist and Mary are the kind of sign that
“indicates the presence of that which it signifies.” Mary was this to
Elizabeth: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.7pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Why has this happened to me, that
the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your
greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">And this is the sign we should be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Jesus is present in us. “The </span>virgin shall bear a son, and shall name him
Emmanuel” —which means, “God with us.” As long as Jesus lives in his body on
earth, he is “with us.”<span style="color: black;"> We are his embodied presence.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His presence is visible through our
lifestyle. However we live, Jesus wants to reveal himself living with us, in us
and through us. Our way of living, acting and speaking should be the sign that
reveals the presence of Jesus in us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Whatever we do, Jesus wants to do it with us, in us and through
us. Wherever we go he wants to go with us, be in us and act through us.
Everyone who encounters us should encounter Jesus along with us, present in us,
speaking through us. As “soon as they hear the sound of our voice” they should
feel, whether conscious of its source or not, something within them “leap for
joy.” Does this sound crazy?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hebrews 10:4-10</b>
Jesus says, “a body you have prepared for me.” We are that body. At every
moment the passionate thrust of our heart should be, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Here am I, Lord, I come to do your will.</i>” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Whatever God asks or allows to happen to us, we answer with Mary
in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Luke 1:26-38</b>, “Let it be with me
according to your word.” Then we are the sign of Jonah.” We are<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Emmanuel.”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Initiative:
Imagine the Hail Mary </span></b><span style="color: black;">addressed to you. What adaptations are needed?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Same Day: March 25, 2017<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Saturday, Lent Week Three</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“<i>It is steadfast love, not sacrifice, that
God desires.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <i>Responsorial </i>(<i>Hosea</i> 6:6 and <i>Psalm</i>
51) says God wants us to <i>know</i> him. The
verse continues: “…<i>and the knowledge of
God</i> rather than burnt offerings.” God wants <i>disciples</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Hosea 6: 1-6</b> shows us
the predictable path of discipleship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The starting point, as often as not, is seeking an escape from
pain. “<i>In their affliction they shall
look for me</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">When we are “in the pits,” all we want is a return to ground
level: a basically human, reasonable way of life. We want God to “heal” our
human natures and “revive” us, as in “re-vivify,” make us alive again. We have
hope that he will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">But our hope is focused on healing: restoring the level of life we
received at creation, from which we “fall short” by following appetites,
emotions and the culture instead of reason. (The common Scriptural word for sin
is <i>hamartia</i>: to “miss the mark”). We
want God to “raise us up, to live in his presence,” because sin is separation
from the Good, the True and the Beautiful that are found in God as Creator, the
truth that clarifies our own being; the goodness which, rejected as goal, puts
disorder into everything we do. As long as we are “in the pits” we cannot focus
on God in himself; we go to God to escape pain. That is why most people went to
Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">But once out of the pits and restored to ground level we begin to
“lift up our eyes to the mountain.” Now, feeling the intrinsic longing of our
human nature for the “more,” we say, “<i>Let us know, let us strive to know the Lord</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is a distinct and very important phase of discipleship. Now
we are able to look at God just in order to know him. We can hear his words
without immediately focusing them on our woundedness. Now we can be students of
God’s mind and heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This activates another level of hope: hope in <i>enlightenment</i> for its own sake; that is, for the sake of knowing
Truth and Goodness as such; for the sake of knowing God. We may struggle with
the discipline of discipleship, and feel discouraged when prayer and reflection
seem fruitless. But our new hope tells us, “<i>Certain
as the dawn is his coming</i>.” We await him like “the light of day,” with hope
that he will “<i>come to us like... spring
rain that waters the earth</i>.” We hope for <i>union</i> with him whose Light is Life: life on the level of God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now the focus turns to <i>perseverance</i>. God speaks out of experience: “<i>Your piety is like a morning cloud, like the
dew that passes away</i>.” Discipleship requires commitment. As Woody Allen
said about success, “Eighty percent of it is just showing up.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">But we need to show up with the right attitude, and the attitude
is <i>need</i>. In <b>Luke 18: 9-14 </b>Jesus tells us “those who exalt themselves shall be
humbled, while those who humble themselves shall be exalted.” Discipleship is
not accomplishment. It is begging. With “a heart contrite and humbled.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Initiative:
Seek to know God. </b>Seek it with efforts, but receive it as gift.</span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br clear="all" />
</span><br />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></span></a>John
McKenzie, <i>Dictionary of the Bible</i>,
“Sign.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> See <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vatican II</i>, “The Church,” no. 1;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Catechism
of the Catholic Church</i>, nos. 770-776, 1108.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[3]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Matthew</i> 12:39, 16:4; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mark</i> 8:12; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Luke</i> 11:29; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">John</i> 2:18-22,
6:22-59.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[4]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Luke</i> 1:39-45.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=468221256591900939#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[5]</span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> The
classic book by Pierre De Caussade, S.J., <i>Abandonment
to Divine Providence</i>, makes this the sum and substance of the whole
spiritual life.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
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