14 Feb
Thu
Thursday after Ash Wednesday
Dt. 30:15-20
Ps. 1:1-4,6
Lk. 9:22-25
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Jesus never explained the meaning of suffering, He lived it. The Cross is a real mystery, as much as life is a mystery. The spirituality of a Christian, therefore, must also embrace suffering but never in a fatalistic fashion. We are never just asked to resign ourselves to our predicament. God does not wish suffering. Nonetheless, we do encounter the many faces of suffering - our own personal anguish, frustrations, disappointments, hurts, brokenness, sinfulness and that of others. There are many little 'deaths' in our life journey - the death of youth, of our ego, of some of our dreams, of some relationships, perhaps of some good health. But we also recognise that the cycle of life and death is essential to our humanity.

How do we make sense of all these? For us Christians, we must inevitably find meaning in the cross. The cross is a symbol of life, not death. A spirituality of the cross, therefore searches for ways to allow suffering to be transformed into a new depth of our being as children of God. Failure and death is not intended to be an end but a new beginning - the paradox is most profound: it is only in dying that we can truly live; it is only in losing everything that we can gain all. For a follower of Christ, suffering does not have a gloomy finality. For a Christian, it is the other face of the resurrection.



Lord, You identified with our pain and suffering to offer us a way of transformation, may our failures, disappointments and pain be the first steps to transformation and hope.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That Catholic hospitals may be outstanding examples in the struggle against suffering and may play a leading role in proclaiming the Gospel of life and respect for the human person.
Elaboration

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P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H    

INTENTION : That Catholic hospitals may be outstanding examples in the struggle against suffering and may play a leading role in proclaiming the Gospel of life and respect for the human person.

Suffering in any form has a supernatural value. It becomes an efficacious moment for our own and other people's sanctification. This has been the teaching of the Church throughout history bearing in mind the grace of Redemption obtained for us by the Lord on the Cross in Calvary. The Lord's missionary mandate to preach the gospel includes the dual concept "evangelisation and care for the sick".

Convinced of this missionary goal and called on to be visible signs of the mercy and charity of Jesus, Catholic Hospitals are urged to give special evangelical witness by loving works and actions, the Church's solicitude for those who suffer. Hence, Catholic Hospitals are to promote initiatives and actions in favour of life and that the entire hospital health care system be imbued with the culture of enhancing life through generous love and dedicated service.

An essential characteristic of Catholic Hospitals is that its treatment of physical suffering must reflect the mark of the Holy Spirit which is "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, understanding of others, fidelity, gentleness and self-control" (Gal 5:22).




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