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Wednesday, March 29, 2006

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Isaiah 49:8-15
Psalm 145
John 5:17-30

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"For the Father loves the Son and everything the Father does He shows Him." —John 5:20

At this moment, the will of our Father is to lead us into a deep personal relationship with Him through Jesus and in the Spirit. That is why He sent His only Son to die and rise, why He wrote the Scriptures, and why He called us into this Lenten time of fasting. That's why in the Catholic community we began Monday reading the Gospel of John for ten weeks. Especially this Gospel leads us into a personal faith-relationship with Jesus, the Way to the Father (Jn 14:6) and the Baptizer in the Spirit (Mk 1:8).

Is your personal relationship with Jesus deep enough that you think of Jesus most of the day, as if you could see Him next to you or in you? Through Jesus, have you come to know your Dad (Abba)? Can you tell when the Spirit, your Paraclete, is at work in your life? Even though the Trinity is One, can you recognize the distinct Persons loving you? Do you know Jesus to the point that you know He's God? Or is that just a doctrine of which you had little personal experience?

Make everyday an adventure of entering deeper into the personal love of the indwelling Trinity. Live in God's love (Jn 15:10).

Prayer:  Father, through Jesus, in the Spirit, may I come to know personally the depth of Christ's love for me, and experience it personally (Eph 3:18-19).

Promise:  "In a time of favor I answer you, on the day of salvation I help you, to restore the land and allot the desolate heritages, saying to the prisoners: Come out! To those in darkness: Show yourselves!" —Is 49:8-9

Praise:  Even through the darkest moments of mental anguish and anxiety, Elizabeth never lost faith or trust in God.

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our tape Jesus, the Redeemer on audio AV 50-3 or video V-50.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 16, 2005

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