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One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 30, Issue 3

<< Friday, April 4, 2014 >>

St. Isidore of Seville

Wisdom 2:1, 12-22
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Psalm 34:17-21, 23

John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
Similar Reflections

PRIVILEGED SUFFERING

"Let us beset the just one." —Wisdom 2:12

"Let us condemn him to a shameful death." —Wisdom 2:20

Two weeks from today is Good Friday. On that day, we will remember that Jesus suffered and died for love of us. We also remember that in our own flesh we "fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of His body, the Church" (Col 1:24). Jesus has left room for our sufferings to be included in His plan of redemption.

Jesus blessed us when He said: "Blest are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of slander against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is great in heaven" (Mt 5:11-12; see also Wis 2:22). May we be "judged worthy of ill-treatment for the sake of the Name" of Jesus (Acts 5:41). May our lives be "not like other men's" (Wis 2:15) so that we will be privileged (Phil 1:29) to suffer "revilement and torture" (Wis 2:19) for righteousness' sake (Mt 5:10).

Rejoice "in the measure that you share Christ's sufferings" (1 Pt 4:13). "If anyone suffers for being a Christian...he ought not to be ashamed. He should rather glorify God in virtue of that name" (1 Pt 4:16). Suffer, rejoice, and love.

Prayer: Father, I accept Your grace to take up my crosses daily (Lk 9:23). May I know how to share in Jesus' sufferings by being formed into the pattern of His death (Phil 3:10).

Promise: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit He saves." —Ps 34:19

Praise: St. Isidore's family was united in the Faith and bore great fruit. Isidore was a bishop, and two of his brothers and a sister were all canonized saints.

Prayer to End Abortions

Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life, and for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, yet I rejoice that You have conquered death by the Resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part in ending abortion. Today I commit myself NEVER to be silent, NEVER to be passive, NEVER to be forgetful of the unborn. I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement, and never to stop defending life until all my brothers and sisters are protected, and our nation once again becomes a nation with liberty and justice not just for some, but for all, through Christ our Lord. Amen!