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Tuesday, April 16, 2019, Holy Week
Isaiah 49:1-6, Psalm 71:1-6, 15, 17, John 13:21-33, 36-38
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041619.cfm
IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE
"You are my hope, O Lord." -Psalm 71:5
Why does God permit abortions, racism, wars, natural catastrophes, and injustices? Why do some of the holiest people feel as if they have "toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent" their strength? (Is 49:4) Why is life the way it is?
Although life is a mystery, we can understand it better by understanding that God, the Creator of all life, is a God is Love (1 Jn 4:8, 16). The purpose of life created by Him is love. We are created and re-created to love Him with all our hearts, to love ourselves, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Lk 10:27). We are redeemed to love as the Lord loves (Jn 13:34) - totally, deeply, and purely.
The Lord orchestrates the events of life to change us from partial to total love of Him, from superficial to deep love, and from a love with mixed motives to a pure love. One of the best ways to transform our love to the highest quality of totality, depth, and purity is for us to be challenged to love our enemies. The Lord repeatedly allows people like Judas (Jn 13:21ff) to betray us and those like Peter to deny us (Jn 13:38). Then He commands us to love these enemies and to lay down our lives for them as He did. He gives us His grace to love the most unlovable. We thereby enter into the mystery of love and of life. Thank God for your worst enemies, for they are your best opportunities to grow in love.
Prayer: Father, by obedience to the truth purify me for a genuine love (1 Pt 1:22).
Promise: "It is too little, He says, for you to be My servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." -Is 49:6
Praise: After three years in a Bible Study, Carolyn converted to the Catholic faith at Easter Vigil Mass.
(For a related teaching on "Love", order, listen to, or download CD 58-1 or DVD 58 on our website.)
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant the "Nihil Obstat" ("Permission to Publish") for "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from April 1, 2019 through May 31, 2019
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, November 28, 2018
The "Nihil Obstat" ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the "Nihil Obstat" agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
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