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We need to forget the imaginary Christ who has been ours too long and to rediscover the real Christ, the Christ of the prophets and the martyrs and the confessors, the Christ who is not only the lover of souls but also master, a monarch with demands to make in industry, in finance, in education, in the arts, in marriage, in the home; the Christ who is teacher of a social ideology which has eternal validity; the
Christ who cries aloud with convincing force, “He who would save his life will lose it; only he who is willing to lose his life, can find it.”
... Bernard Iddings Bell (1886-1958), Still Shine the Stars [1941]
(Christ in all aspects of life! How will you extend His influence today?)
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Ex 11:10—12:14; Psalm 116:12-13, 15 and 16bc, 17-18
Mt 12:1-8
Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath.
His disciples were hungry
and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him,
“See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.”
He said to the them, “Have you not read what David did
when he and his companions were hungry,
how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering,
which neither he nor his companions
but only the priests could lawfully eat?
Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath
the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath
and are innocent?
I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.
If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
you would not have condemned these innocent men.
For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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“This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the Lord, as a perpetual institution.” —Exodus 12:14
Passover is one of the most important celebrations in the history of the human race. It refers to the event when the Lord passed over the homes of the Israelites while putting to death the firstborn of the Egyptians (Ex 12:12, 29-30). In this way, the Israelites were freed from hundreds of years of slavery.
Jesus celebrated the “Last Supper” on the occasion of the Passover. He said: “I have greatly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Lk 22:15). He commanded us to do the new Passover of the Last Supper in remembrance of Him (Lk 22:19). After Pentecost, the Spirit led the early Church to devote itself to celebrating the New Passover (Acts 2:42). They called it the “breaking of the bread.” For two thousand years
the New Passover has been the center of Christian life.
Are you desiring to celebrate the Passover as Jesus greatly desires to celebrate it with you? (Lk 22:15) Is Mass the center of your life? Do you live to celebrate the Eucharist? Have you followed the Spirit’s lead in devoting yourself to the breaking of the bread? (Acts 2:42) Ask for the grace to love Jesus in the Eucharist with all your heart.
Prayer: Jesus, may I desire to celebrate Mass and receive Communion daily. Do anything to increase this desire in Me.
Promise: “It is mercy I desire and not sacrifice.” —Mt 12:7
Praise: Mount Carmel is in northern Israel and was a home for hermits who were especially devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. These monks became known as the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Many prominent saints were Carmelites and have promoted the Immaculate Conception.
Presentation Ministries
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Abandonment to Divine Providence
- by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
BOOK II,
CHAPTER IV. CONCERNING THE ASSISTANCE RENDERED BY THE FATHERLY PROVIDENCE OF GOD TO THOSE SOULS WHO HAVE ABANDONED THEMSELVES TO HIM
SECTION 12. The Triumph of Humility
To the souls which are faithful to Him, God promises a glorious victory over the powers of the world and of hell.
Those who practise iniquity imagine themselves invincible. O God! who can resist You? If a single soul has the whole world and all hell against it, it need have no fear if, by abandonment, it takes its stand on the side of God and His order.
The monstrous spectacle of wickedness armed with so much power, the head of gold, the body of silver, brass, and iron, is nothing more than the image of clay; a small stone cast at it will scatter it to the four winds of Heaven.
How wonderfully has the Holy Spirit illustrated the centuries of the world! So many startling revelations! so many renowned heroes following each other like so many brilliant stars! So many wonderful events!
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