Friday 4th Week of Lent

 The Innocent are Condemned Wis. 2:12-22

In our legal system we believe that the innocent are set free and the guilty are condemned. 

Is this always true?

Jesus was innocent but condemned to death. 

So Do not be surprised when the innocent are 

tested, treated unfairly and condemned. 

For this is the way of the world and godless. 

When Jesus was unjustly condemned. 

He entrusted Himself to His Father

For God is the Just Judge Who will set things straight

And will vindicate the Innocent and condemn the guilty. 

Thursday 4th week of Lent

 Intercede for sinners Ex. 32:7-14

After Moses saw that Israel had worshipped a golden calf instead of the Living God

He had one of two choices. 

He could have let God wipe Israel out and start over with another people,

Or he could have interceded that God be merciful. 

When we see someone who has sinned or done something wrong. 

We too have one of two choices to make. 

That God punish them,

Or intercede for them that God be merciful. 

Wednesday 4th Week of Lent

My Father is at work. Jn. 5:17-30

Jesus tells us that His Father is at work. 

And what is His work?

God the Father's work is never done. 

He is always creating. 

Creating new life from the smallest creature to the infant in the womb. 

Creating new planets, stars and galaxies. 

Creating plants and flowers and trees; 

Creating rain in the heavens to water them. 

It is a lot of work to keep the earth going let alone the universe!

God the Father is constantly watching and working. 

He watches over His children. 

He creates the world for them to live in and explore and grow. 

God the Father is actually very busy at work. 

And all He does is for us, His children!

Tuesday 4th Week of Lent

 O Healing River

Water is necessary for life. 

That is why astronomers and astronauts are looking for water on other planets. 

Without Water there is no life. 

Ezekiel the prophet speaks of the living water that comes from the Temple in Jerusalem. 

Not just a spring but a river that transforms the salty sea barren desert 

Into banks flourishing with life. 

Jesus is the Temple from Whom Living water flows. 

It is no longer necessary to bathe in the waters at the pool of Bethesda to be be healed.  

Jesus is the source of Healing Waters. 

He is the Healing River,

From which not just healing,

But abundant Life comes. 

This land is parching, this land is thirsting. 

No seed is growing on the baren ground

Oh healing river send down your water

Oh healing river send your water down

Monday 4th Week of Lent

Signs or Faith ? Jn. 4:43-54

There are those who seek signs

And then there are those who do not,

Because they have Faith.  

Those who seek signs are never satisfied. 

They are always seeking after another. 

Filled with doubts about the sign they saw. 

Whether it was real or not. 

The royal official had Faith. 

And because he did, Jesus healed his son who was dying. 

Signs are like the weather always changing;

But Faith can weather any storm. 

4th Sunday of Lent

 The Prodigal Son Lk. 15:1-32

Many people nowadays do not go to church. 

They say “I am a good person.”

“Why do I have to go to church?”

Well if everyone is good, then why is the world in such a mess?

Why is there division, war, violence, crime and rioting?

And I do not mean just the things happening half way around the world,

These same things are happening in our own back yard;

In Our cities and our homes as well. 

Even in our families. 

Maybe just a different degree,

But happening still the same. 

Maybe we are not as good as we think we are?

Maybe there is a little or a lot of the Prodigal Son in all of us. 

In the parable, There were two sons. 

One who left and one who stayed.

Neither however were really good. 

They were more concerned about themselves. 

One wanting his inheritance 

while the other stayed home ,

but his heart was just as far away from his father as was his prodigal brother’s.

Both never really understanding that everything the father had was theirs. 

Never really understanding their father who never cared about his own possessions which he so freely gave to his sons. 

All the father cared about was his sons!

Everything our Heavenly Father has is ours and yet we run off and chase after things in this world like the prodigal son.

Or like the other brother we stay home and appear to do everything we are obligated to do but our hearts are not really in it either. 

Neither son was as good as they thought, 

but they had a father who loved them anyways and so do we.

No matter how far we stray we always have a home to come to, and a father who will welcome us with open arms. 

Friday 3rd Week of Lent

 Love the Lord Mk. 12:28-34

The Great Commandment is that we should love the Lord,

With all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength. 

Lent is a good time to make a list of how we love the Lord,

With all our heart, all our soul and with all our mind and strength. 

So find time to sit down,

get out a piece of paper and write down,

All the ways that you show how much you love the Lord. 

And then make a list of all the ways that God loves us;

And compare!