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The Accounts of Jesus foretelling his death are central to understanding Jesus' self-consciousness: death on a cross did not catch him unawares.
As far as we can see, Jesus found the specific form of his mission on earth in the vision of the great prophet Isaiah: Against the usual Jewish view of God as a strong God - "the strong One of Israel" (cf. Is 1:24) who would save Israel by his power. Isaiah proposed the rather startling view that God would save us through suffering in the person of his Suffering servant. As the Apostles were Jews, they would have, to a greater or lesser extent, accepted the doctrine of a strong God, and so we can understand the need for Jesus to instruct them on his future suffering. Jesus' life in the world was a supreme example of unconditional love for the Father and even us. Against this view of a strong God of power and might, Isaiah taught a supremely important theology of suffering - its salvific value - based on his vision of God's Suffering Servant.
Lord Jesus teaches us to discover salvation in any suffering we may have to endure through your suffering on the Cross.
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DAILY OFFERING
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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.
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PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
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INTENTION
We pray that we all will make courageous choices for a simple and environmentally sustainable lifestyle, rejoicing in our young people who are resolutely committed to this.
Elaboration
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