GO OUT INTO THE DEEP - One Bread, One Body, 3/4/2008

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Tuesday, March 4, 2008, St. Casimir

Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12, Psalm 46, John 5:1-16
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/030408.shtml

GO OUT INTO THE DEEP

"Do you want to be healed?" —John 5:6

Jesus didn't ask the sick man: "Do you want to be sick?" The sick man, and
most people, would answer with a resounding "No." Jesus asked him, and
asks us, "Do you want to be healed?" (Jn 5:6) The sick man didn't answer
"Yes." Perhaps he wanted to be rid of his sickness, but didn't want to
change the lifestyle of limitations and sin (Jn 5:14) that he'd built
around his sickness. He had a soul sickness as well as a physical
sickness.

It's not in Jesus' nature to do a half-healing. He won't limit Himself to
only heal what's causing you the most pain. In addition to healing your
knee, He'll also insist on healing your relationship with your father. You
go into Jesus' emergency room to be healed of high blood pressure, and He
first talks about healing you of unforgiveness toward someone who hurt you
"thirty-eight years" ago (Jn 5:5). You want to stick your toe into healing
water (Jn 5:2ff), and Jesus wants to sweep you away in His healing river
of life (Ez 47:5, 12), to baptize, to immerse you.

Jesus stands at your door (see Rv 3:20) and asks you: "Do you want to be
healed? Do you want overflowing, abundant life? (Jn 10:10) Whatever is
lifeless in you, I will make fresh and new (Ez 47:9). In My healing, I
will heal you and free you of spending your life hidden beneath the shroud
of sickness, depression, anxiety, and fear of death (Heb 2:15). I will
heal you for evangelization, and give you the power to witness to Me and
pierce hearts by speaking My prophetic word. I will make you a light for
the world (Mt 5:14). Answer, My child! Do you want to be healed?"

Prayer: Jesus, I choose to live my Baptism to the fullest. Immerse me anew
in the living water of the Holy Spirit (Jn 7:37-39).

Promise: "There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God." —Ps
46:5

Praise: St. Casimir renounced his chances for a worldly life of power and
marriage to live a life of celibacy and austerity.

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

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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from
February 1, 2008 through March 31, 2008
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General Archdiocese of Cincinnati,
August 14, 2007

The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be
free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have
granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.

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