THE PRAYER FOR SUFFERING - One Bread, One Body, 3/21/2010

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Sunday, March 21, 2010, Fifth Sunday of Lent

Isaiah 43:16-21, Philippians 3:8-14, Psalm 126:1-6, John 8:1-11
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/032110.shtml

THE PRAYER FOR SUFFERING

"I wish to know Christ and the power flowing from His resurrection;
likewise to know how to share in His sufferings by being formed into the
pattern of His death." —Philippians 3:10

The Lord calls us to pray to be freed from suffering to be freed for
suffering. We must pray for healing, deliverance, victory, and peace. We
pray to remove sufferings that are not God's will to help us accept
sufferings that are. Therefore, after praying to be freed from suffering,
we should pray "to know how to share in [Christ's] sufferings by being
formed into the pattern of His death" (Phil 3:10).

This prayer to know how to share in Christ's sufferings is rarely prayed.
Only those deeply in love with Christ are open to this prayer. To pray for
suffering, love must be more important to us than self. We must love Jesus
so much we prefer to suffer with Him rather than to enjoy ourselves
without Him. Because of love, we consider Jesus more important to us than
pleasure, and we even value suffering insofar as it is in union with
Christ.

We proclaim: "I have come to rate all as loss in the light of the
surpassing knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ. For His sake I have
forfeited everything; I have accounted all else rubbish so that Christ may
be my Wealth and I may be in Him" (Phil 3:8-9). Rejoice in the sufferings
of Lent "in the measure that you share Christ's sufferings" (1 Pt 4:13).

Prayer: Father, may I consider it a privilege to suffer with, for, and in
Jesus (Phil 1:29).

Promise: "See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth." —Is 43:19

Praise: "We praise You, the Lord God Almighty, Who is and Who was" (Rv
11:17). "Who would dare refuse You honor, or the glory due Your name, O
Lord?" (Rv 15:4)

(For a related teaching, order our tape on "Redemptive Suffering "on audio
AV 75-1 or video V-75.)

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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, 2010 through March 31, 2010
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, August 26, 2009

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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