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Reflections
for Sunday, March 17, 2013
May we gain Christ and be found in him, not having any righteousness of our
own! This is Saint Paul's prayer in the second reading, from the Letter to
the Philippians. What we want is to live completely in God, in Jesus
Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Far too often religious has meant and still means trying to observe laws
and do everything correctly. As we continue to read the Scriptures and
allow ourselves to be formed by them, we come to recognize that God is
inviting us to a very deep, profound and personal relationship with Him.
God thirsts for us. God will do everything to win us over and draw us to
Himself.
Today we hear a reading from the Prophet Isaiah. He tells us this about
God: I put water in the desert and rivers in the wasteland for my chosen
people to drink, the people whom I formed for myself, that they might
announce my praise.
God is always going out of His way to do things for us, to draw us to
Himself, to help us see His presence. Once we have come to understand a
bit about God, then we begin to announce His praise. We do this not by
saying words, but by striving to live His ways. We do this not to keep the
laws, not to live correctly, but because we have been loved and want to
return that love.
At the heart of the Gospel in our own lives there must always be this deep
awareness that HE loves me, HE wants me, HE thirsts for me. How different
are the actions of a person in love!
We see Jesus accepting the woman in the Gospel. She broke the rules, she
sinned, she was clearly abandoned by her male lover - and Jesus does not
condemn her. Instead, Jesus look for her well-being, trying to do what is
best for her. That is a description of love. Today, far too often, love
is confused with good feelings or physical attraction. True love is about
seeking the good of the other person, even if that puts us in a difficult
situation or causes us to suffer. We must be willing to give our lives up
for the sake of others.
May this Lent draw us all deeper into God's love and help us love others!
Readings of the day:
First Reading: Isaiah 43.16-21
Second Reading: Philippians 3.8-14
Gospel: John 8.1-11
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Reflections are available for the following Sundays:
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