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In the Book of Numbers, the serpent story reveals one end of the
spectrum of faith. Faith based on a comfortable life is easily shed when
faced with difficulties. Only an illustration of God's almighty power which
can heal deadly bites by using inadequate means - the bronze serpent on
a standard - restores this sort of faith. In the Gospel of John, the agents of unbelief are the Jews who grow more and more aggressive as they oppose Jesus. Yet there are other groups of people who are bewildered. Their partial faith needs answers, but Jesus' teaching that He is "from above" and "not of this world" (v. 23) is not understood. His talk of going away is a riddle to them, and their interpretation that He might kill Himself is ironic in that He does eventually offer His life for them on the cross. Jesus' prophecy about His origin and destiny is really quite precise - He makes clear His unique relationship to the Father, His authority to bear witness to Himself and to judge. However, all these are founded on obedience to the Father and to dependence on Him. His total submission to the Father is what gives Him authority. Unbelief occurs when such total dependence is despised by those who value power and glory above all else. To believe utterly in Jesus is to bend one's will to the Father's pleasure as He did, to the point of being "lifted up" (a reference to the Crucifixion). Then and only then can "you know that I am He". (v.28). Lord, help me to be faithful to Your Will. |
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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 : |
That consecrated people, answering the call of their
particular vocation, may radiate the spirit of the Gospel beatitudes in the
present-day world
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In the world of today there is a widespread search for joy, happiness,
serenity, liberty. That is why the consecrated religious is called on
to remind every person that the life of a human being comes from God.
Religious give outstanding and striking testimony that the world cannot
be transformed and offered to God without the spirit of the Beatitudes
which proposes a way of living and for people to relate to each other.
The consecrated life is for all the faithful a luminous sign of the
common vocation to holiness, a model on which to draw inspiration and
courage. Besides, the religious community based on motivations of faith,
on mutual love and on sharing presents itself as a call to the constant
reform of ecclesial communities. The commitment asked of consecrated people needs the support, awareness and prayer of the entire Christian community, so that human weakness may not prevail but may always allow itself to be led and transformed by God's action. In fact, the attitudes indicated by the Beatitudes not only point a sure way towards fulfilment and charity, but also lead directly to the Person of Christ who came so that men and women not only might have life but have it to the full. | |
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