.: ...Power To Exercise... †

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

...Power To Exercise... †

The Work that Is Ours to Do

"Work is part of God's loving plan, we are called to cultivate and care for all the goods of creation and in this way share in the work of creation! Work is fundamental to the dignity of a person. Work anoints us with dignity, fills us with dignity, makes us similar to God, who has worked and still works, who always acts."—Pope Francis

As Jesus responds to those who question his identity as the Son of God, he puts it in terms of the work that God does in the world. From the beginning of creation, it is God's work that keeps all the universe in existence. Jesus shares in that work. Pope Francis shows us by his deeds and occasionally by his words that his work as pope is to lead God's people in the way of the Gospel. In any religious organization the foibles and weaknesses of human society can become more visible and at times more important than the underlying good work that's being done. It's part of the pope's responsibility—any pope in history—to rise above the controversy and the squabbling to focus on doing God's work in the world. We know that in our own lives—at home, at work, in school, in various organizations—that the less admirable behaviors can distract from the work at hand. We spend more time complaining about what other people are doing or not doing than we spend doing the work that is ours to do.

Reflect today on the work that you do, whatever that might be. Ask yourself how focusing on that work can keep you from falling into the various snares that Pope Francis often talks about— gossip, backbiting, jealousy, despair. How can your work help you to further the way of God in the world? When you feel disillusioned, remind yourself that it's all about the work. With Jesus, you can say, "The Father is at work and I work, too."

— from the book The Hope of Lent: Daily Reflections from Pope Francis

by Diane M. Houdek

MorningOffering.com

†Saint Quote
"It is a lesson we all need—to let alone the things that do not concern us. He has other ways for others to follow Him; all do not go by the same path. It is for each of us to learn the path by which He requires us to follow Him, and to follow Him in that path."
— St. Katharine Drexel

† MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Now there's no one who approaches God with a true and upright heart who isn't tested by hardships and temptations. So in all these temptations see to it that even if you feel them, you don't consent to them. Instead, bear them patiently and calmly with humility and longsuffering."
— St. Albert the Great, p. 164
AN EXCERPT FROM
Manual for Spiritual Warfare
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† VERSE OF THE DAY
"Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Ephesians 3:20-21

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ST. PATRICK OF IRELAND

St. Patrick (387-493) was born in Kilpatrick, Scotland, to Roman-British parents. He was kidnapped by Irish raiders at the age of sixteen and sold as a slave to a Druid high priest. He worked as a shepherd and spent much time in prayer as he labored in the fields. He also acquired a perfect knowledge of the Celtic language and the Druid cult, which later enabled him to evangelize the Celtic people. After six years of slavery, an angel told him to flee his oppressive master and return to his native land. Upon returning to Britain, Patrick desired to devote himself to God's service. He went to France and placed himself under the direction of St. Germain, who ordained him a priest and sent him to evangelize the pagans in Ireland. St. Patrick devoted the rest of his life to converting the island to Christianity. He was ordained a bishop and himself ordained many priests. He divided the country into dioceses, held local Church councils, founded monasteries, and urged the people to greater holiness. He suffered much opposition from the Druids and occult magicians, who, threatened by Christianity, conjured demonic power to defy Patrick. However, the prayer, faith, fearlessness, and episcopal authority of Patrick triumphed, and he was so successful in his endeavor that in the Middle Ages Ireland became known as the Land of Saints, and himself the "Apostle of Ireland." Later, the missionaries sent from Ireland to Europe were largely responsible for the Christianizing of the continent. St. Patrick's feast day is March 17th.

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Lectionary: 246
Reading I

Is 49:8-15

Thus says the LORD:
In a time of favor I answer you,

on the day of salvation I help you;

and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people,
To restore the land

and allot the desolate heritages,
Saying to the prisoners: Come out!
To those in darkness: Show yourselves!
Along the ways they shall find pasture,

on every bare height shall their pastures be.
They shall not hunger or thirst,

nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them;
For he who pities them leads them

and guides them beside springs of water.
I will cut a road through all my mountains,

and make my highways level.
See, some shall come from afar,

others from the north and the west,

and some from the land of Syene.
Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth,

break forth into song, you mountains.
For the LORD comforts his people

and shows mercy to his afflicted.

But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me;

my Lord has forgotten me."
Can a mother forget her infant,

be without tenderness for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget,

I will never forget you.

Responsorial Psalm

145:8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18

R. (8a) The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all

and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is faithful in all his words

and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling

and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is just in all his ways

and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,

to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.

Verse before the Gospel

Jn 11:25a, 26

I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord;
whoever believes in me will never die.

Gospel

Jn 5:17-30

Jesus answered the Jews:
"My Father is at work until now, so I am at work."
For this reason they tried all the more to kill him,
because he not only broke the sabbath
but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.

Jesus answered and said to them,
"Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own,
but only what he sees the Father doing;
for what he does, the Son will do also.
For the Father loves the Son
and shows him everything that he himself does,
and he will show him greater works than these,
so that you may be amazed.
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life,
so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes.
Nor does the Father judge anyone,
but he has given all judgment to the Son,
so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
Whoever does not honor the Son
does not honor the Father who sent him.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word
and believes in the one who sent me
has eternal life and will not come to condemnation,
but has passed from death to life.
Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here
when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God,
and those who hear will live.
For just as the Father has life in himself,
so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself.
And he gave him power to exercise judgment,
because he is the Son of Man.
Do not be amazed at this,
because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs
will hear his voice and will come out,
those who have done good deeds
to the resurrection of life,
but those who have done wicked deeds
to the resurrection of condemnation.

"I cannot do anything on my own;
I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just,
because I do not seek my own will
but the will of the one who sent me."

Daily Meditation: Isaiah 49:8-15

Can a mother forget her infant? (Isaiah 49:15)

Today's first reading contains many beautiful images that convey God's love and care for us. It's a message that is just as comforting for us today as it must have been for the Israelites of the time, who had been exiled from their homeland.

These Israelites are the same people who tried to kill the prophet Jeremiah. They're the same people who ignored Ezekiel's warnings to repent, who sacrificed to false gods, and who practiced grave injustices against the poor and marginalized. Their sins led to their unfortunate situation.

And yet here is God, in his tenderness and mercy, promising to lead them home and care for them along the way. Here is God comparing himself to a mother who never forgets her child.

Because of all the times the Israelites strayed from God, you might wonder: how could he still want to help them? We tend to superimpose our human nature onto God and assume that he would act as we do when we feel that we've been wronged—with anger, bitterness, self-pity, or revenge in our hearts. But God doesn't think or act that way. He isn't hurt if we ignore him. He doesn't derive a sense of restitution or satisfaction by watching us suffer. His biggest concern is our well-being—and he always knows what is best for us. As today's psalm says, "The Lord is good to all" (Psalm 145:9). Not just to the saints, but also to the worst kinds of sinners. He hasn't forgotten anyone. He is always ready to forgive them and bring them back home to him.

The same goes for you! So take heart in today's message of redemption. Look for God's blessings in your life. Can you see the ways that he is trying to draw you closer to him? Even when you fall into sin, remember that he is a Father who loves you and wants to set you on a path toward healing and peace. His goodness is overflowing!

"Thank you, Father, for your unending mercy and the promise of your salvation!"

Psalm 145:8-9, 13-14, 17-18
John 5:17-30

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my2cents:

From Bishop Barron today:
"Friends, in today's Gospel, we see Jesus as the judge who shows mercy and love. It is hard to read any two pages of the Bible—Old Testament or New—and not find the language of divine judgment.

Think of judgment as a sort of light, which reveals both the positive and the negative. Beautiful things look even more beautiful when the light shines on them; ugly things look even uglier when they come into the light. When the divine light shines, when judgment takes place, something like real love is unleashed.

Someone might avoid seeing the doctor for years, fearful that he will uncover something diseased or deadly. But how much better it is for you when you do, even when the doctor pronounces a harsh "judgment" on your physical condition!

And this is why judgment is the proper activity of a king. It is not the exercise of arbitrary power, but rather an exercise of real love.

Reflect: What is revealed here about the identity of Jesus? Do you believe that Jesus is your Judge and your King? How does that affect the way you live?"

Our Lord talks about those who do deeds.
He speaks of their value.
Think of the value of Love He desires.
Love of Him and love of one another.
He is Father

Lord, help us love thee more and more...truly

from your brother in Christ our Lord,
adrian

Random online bible verse from a random verse generator:
1Cor13
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace

Going4th

For questions or comments contact Adrian@going4th.com. For more go to www.Going4th.com

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Wednesday, March 17, 2021