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Being anointed for mission often means suffering and struggle. Jesus
has just raised Lazarus from the dead, and now, as He dines with that
very man and his sisters, there is a rather sombre sense of foreboding.
His glorification, which is His date with the cross, is not far off. Mary, the sister of Lazarus, intuits this and anoints Jesus with expensive oils and perfumes as a symbol of His burial. It is an act of devotion and love, and yet Judas is unable to recognise it as such, so taken up is he with selfishness and anger. The rebuke of Jesus is twofold: it blesses the fidelity and courage of Mary and the other women of the Gospel, inviting us to appreciate the contributions of women in the Church. It is also an ongoing reminder to love and serve the poor who are ever present in our midst. Jesus now turns towards Jerusalem and the supreme act of love. His passion will be His service to God and to humanity, and it is clear that God's spirit rests on Him and on all those who follow faithfully in His footsteps. We need never fear as we labour on behalf of others, for God's comfort will be given at the hands of many of our faithful companions on the way. Are we following the footsteps of the Master, or are we merely going along for the ride? Lord, anoint me with the spirit of love and service. |
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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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