Shalom

20 Mar Wed	5th Week of Lent
	Dan. 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 (R.Ps.)Dan.3:52, 53,54,55,56 Jn. 8:31-42

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"The truth will set you free". Jesus wasn't talking about philosophy or abstract ideas. He was talking about accepting the word of God, coming to know God. And the freedom He referred to is the radical freedom of trusting God completely, letting go of anything of our own. That was the kind of freedom those three young Jewish men had, whose story is told in the Book of Daniel. They knew what the penalty was for refusing to worship a golden statue set up by a tyrant king. Yet they infuriated the king by refusing, relying on the power of God to save them, if He so willed. When the king in amazement saw that their God did indeed keep them safe in the blazing furnace, he acknowledged the miracle and gave glory to the God so trusted by those young men that they were willing to forfeit even their own lives. Their punishment reminds us of Jesus' passion and His giving up His life, trusting His Father. He who is the Truth was condemned to die by people who would not accept His word or His truth. The most powerful political man (Pilate) showed how un-free he really was, not only in handing over an innocent man to death but even by suggesting that 'truth' is just an abstract idea, to be discussed rather than believed and acted on.

God of truth and love, give us grace this season to welcome Your word, Your Son, to be true disciples of His, following His way and sharing His life.

DAILY OFFERING

Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH

INTENTION
For the ecclesial organisations and groups engaged in social action, that in their testimony they may proclaim strongly and consistently the Gospel of Love.
Elaboration

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P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H

INTENTION :	For the ecclesial organisations and groups engaged in social action, that in their testimony they may proclaim strongly and consistently the Gospel of Love.
It is the Church's desire that all social-charitable initiatives might always be inspired, in their implementation, by the immutable principles of the Gospel. There is danger, however, that professional organisations engaged in the social field risk losing the fundamental motivation for their existence: that is bearing witness to Christ's charity which the Church has the duty to communicate and to share with others. In order to be effective, then, continual spiritual formation is needed for voluntary co-operators who wish to devote themselves to social action. All these initiatives tend to develop the awareness that the foundation and centre of our action is Christ, in whom the God of love revealed himself and gave himself to men and women. Consequently all those who welcome Christ follow him and answer the call to be faithful witnesses to it. This awareness must totally imbue the hearts and minds of individuals so that it also inspires the Communities they set up for organised action in support of underprivileged persons and communities suffering from material and moral poverty. Being thus imbued and formed it becomes necessary that volunteers pray to draw Christ into their midst and have him accompany them.
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