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Monday, March 30, 2015

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Holy Week


Isaiah 42:1-7
Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14
John 12:1-11

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never enough

"The chief priests planned to kill Lazarus too, because many Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in Him on account of Lazarus." —John 12:10-11

Jesus, the Life (Jn 14:6), will not even quench a smoldering wick (Is 42:3). In fact, when the smoldering wick, that is, Lazarus, was extinguished and was buried, Jesus raised him back to life (Jn 11:43ff).

The chief priests, however, were not content with putting Jesus the Life to death; they planned to kill Lazarus too (Jn 12:10ff). When you choose death instead of life, one death is never enough. Once you make a covenant with death (Is 28:15), you are the slave of death. Only Jesus, and those who make a covenant with Him, have victory over death. "Death has no more power over Him" and those who are in Him (see Rm 6:9).

Many of you may have chosen death, particularly through abortifacient contraceptives which caused a chemical abortion that you aren't aware even happened. You may have made a covenant with death, and death is a cruel master. Repent! Come to Jesus. Let Him break the power of death and give you life to the full (Jn 10:10).

In this holiest of weeks, ask Jesus to break any bonds of death in your life. Make a full Confession. Place yourself under the protection of Jesus, the Life (Jn 11:25; 14:6). "I have set before you life and death...Choose life...that you...may live" (Dt 30:19).

Prayer:  Father, use me to help overturn this present culture of death and replace it with a civilization of love and life.

Promise:  "The Lord is my life's Refuge; of whom should I be afraid?" —Ps 27:1

Praise:  Mel, a company vice-president, receives the Eucharist each morning before starting his workday.

Reference:  (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 25, 2014

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