[al_c]

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Because we are all baptized into Christ, every person who is united with him in faith can also claim for themselves the title "servant of the Lord."

Monday, April 5, 2004
Monday of Holy Week

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Isaiah 42:1-7 Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14 John 12:1-11 If by a diligent life of virtue, you wash away the film of dirt that covers your heart, then the divine beauty will shine forth in you.  -- St. Gregory of Nyssa

The following is, as usual, from The Word Among Us:

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights. (Isaiah 42:1)

Who is this "servant"? Of course we can say it is Jesus, but that's not the only answer. Because we are all baptized into Christ, every person who is united with him in faith can also claim for themselves the title "servant of the Lord." Every one of us is God's chosen, and he delights in every single one of us.

As comforting as these words sound, there is also a challenge in them. God has "taken us by the hand," not just for our sakes but for the sake of the world around us. Just as he called Jesus, so he now calls us to establish "justice in the earth" and to be a "light to the nations." (Isaiah 42:4,6).

How can God expect this of us? Sometimes, it seems a major struggle simply to establish justice in our own hearts, let alone in the lives of those around us. But this is exactly why the Lord has given us his Holy Spirit (Isaiah 42:1). Filled with divine confidence and strength, every member of the body of Christ can make a difference.

What will this "justice" look like? Put simply, it will look like the human life of Jesus. It means treating the most neglected members of society with tenderness and respect (Isaiah 42:3). It means walking into the lonely prison of a homebound neighbor and taking her on a rare outing (42:7). It means not calling attention to ourselves but quietly doing an honest day's work and refusing to participate in workplace gossip or crooked practices (Isaiah 42:2). It means speaking up for the poor, the unborn, and the victimized. It means pouring ourselves out for the materially, emotionally, and spiritually poor, knowing that we are anointing the feet of the Master (John 12:1-8). And finally, it means not expecting to see the final results of our labors but working patiently and waiting upon the Lord to act in his own time (Psalm 27:14).

"Lord, you are 'my light and my salvation,' so I refuse to be afraid. Yes, I am assailed by 'adversaries and foes'--including my own doubts and limitations. Yet I know that they will ultimately 'stumble and fall' and that I will see your goodness here in the land of the living!" (Psalm 27:1,2,13).

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God bless.

AC

[CindyDawg]

I had to drive thru that storm yesterday. It started raining around Comfort. By San Antonio it was raining hard. Fortunately the traffic was light and people driving were cautious. I only saw about 4 fenderbenders :') :'(
Around the outer loop on 37 it was storming. At one point we were down to about 5 MPH. I could not see from one white line to the next. I couldn't pull over. Couldn't see the shoulder and didn't want to get broadsided. Everyone just hugging the center line. It was like I was in water. It looked like waves coming straight across. It finally eased up a little and we stopped at a closed station. (2 grandsons with me). When things slowed down I headed out again. Good thing too because the feeder lane very long and starting to pond. Probably 20 miles down the road it stared again. I got off the FW once more.. Cars parked everywhere. A worker outside and told me to park behind the building because a hail storm about 10 miles out and coming and a tornado spotted. I asked if I should keep going and he said "you going south? It's drivable. Get out of here!" So I started back out in the rain. I fought it until about Oak (something). Then it was just light rain and lots of lightening and wind.
Funny thing though. After we were out the 4 y/o said "granny, why is your hair standing up?" They both have buzz cuts and looked fine. I felt my hair. I'm naturally curly (thank goodness for straighteners) and my hair was frizzed. After we were home it was fine. Guess lots of static in the air.