Shalom

23 Mar Sat	5th Week of Lent
	Ez. 37:21-28 (R.Ps.) Jer. 31:10,11-12a, 13 Jn. 11:45-56

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The evangelist John has been little by little preparing the drama of the Passion of the Lord. He has several times repeated in the Gospel that Jesus is the master of His destiny as "planned" from above. Our gospel today develops some aspects of the meaning of Jesus' imminent death. Even though He gave life to Lazarus the Sanhedrin decides that Jesus should die. But His death will indeed give Life. Did not Caiphas without knowing prophesy it? The earthly Israel will be dispersed because of Jesus' death. But by His death, He will gather new life for all the peoples of earth to become the New Israel of God.

This is who prophesised in the messianic doctrine of Ezekiel. Through His death Jesus will make all of us one. Jesus will make us a covenant of peace. He will be our God; we will be His people. Let us thank God because through the death of His own Son, we have become His children.

Lord, You have made a covenant of peace with us. You will be our God and we shall be Your people.

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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