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Message of the Day
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To be like Christ, we must empty ourselves of who we thought we were. Instead of taking a position of honor, we must humble ourselves completely. In order to lead, we must serve. Christ, although He was a King, came to this world as
lowly carpenter. Then, just as His ministry was reaching its pinnacle, He gave up everything and sacrificed His life on the cross. It is this same sacrificial spirit that we must have in our daily lives as followers of Christ.
- Reflection for Holy Thursday: http://www.wakingupcatholic.com/
(How are you being called to sacrifice yourself for the sake of love these days? Join these offerings to those of Christ, that you might be transformed by Him.)
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Lectionary Readings
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EX 12:1-8, 11-14; PS 116:12-13, 15-18; 1 COR 11:23-26; JN 13:1-15
R. Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
Precious in the eyes of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my
bonds.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
R/. Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.
USCCB Lectionary
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Reflection on the Gospel
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Jesus loved his disciples to the very end, even when they failed him and forsook him. The Lord loves each of us unconditionally. His love has power to set us free to serve others with Christ-like compassion and humility. Does the love of Christ rule in your heart, thoughts, intentions and actions?
Saint Augustine of Hippo in his
sermon for this day, wrote:
"He had the power of laying down his life; we by contrast cannot choose the length of our lives, and we die even if it is against our will. He, by dying, destroyed death in himself; we are freed from death only in his death. His body did not see corruption; our body will see corruption and only then be clothed through him
in incorruption at the end of the world. He needed no help from us in saving us; without him we can do nothing. He gave himself to us as the vine to the branches; apart from him we cannot have life.
"Finally, even if brothers die for brothers, yet no martyr by shedding his blood brings forgiveness for the sins of his brothers, as Christ brought forgiveness to us. In this he gave us, not an
example to imitate but a reason for rejoicing. Inasmuch, then, as they shed their blood for their brothers, the martyrs provided 'the same kind of meal' as they had received at the Lord's table. Let us then love one another as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us."
"Lord Jesus, your love conquers all and never fails. Help me to love others freely, with heart-felt compassion ,
kindness and goodness. Where there is injury, may I sow peace rather than strife."
DailyScripture.net
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Spiritual Reading
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The Cloud of Unknowing, by Anonymous That in the time of this work a perfect soul hath no special beholding to any one man in this life.
Nevertheless, in this work he hath no leisure to look after who is his friend or his foe, his kin or his stranger. I say not but he shall feel some time-yea, full oft-his affection more homely to one, two, or three, than to all these other: for that is lawful to be, for many causes as charity asketh. For such an homely affection felt Christ to John and unto Mary, and unto Peter before many others. But I say, that in the time of this work shall all be equally homely unto him; for
he shall feel then no cause, but only God. So that all shall be loved plainly and nakedly for God, and as well as himself.
- Chapter
25
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