Jesus, the Life (Jn 14:6), will not even quench a smoldering wick (Is 42:3). In fact, when the smoldering wick, that is, Lazarus, was extinguished and was buried, Jesus raised him back to life (Jn 11:43ff).
The chief priests, however, were not content with putting Jesus the Life to death; they planned to kill Lazarus too (Jn 12:10ff). When you choose death instead of life, one death is never enough. Once you make a covenant with death (Is 28:15), you are the slave of death. Only Jesus, and those who make a covenant with Him, have victory over death. "Death has no more power over Him" and those who are in Him (see Rm 6:9).
Many of you may have chosen death, particularly through abortifacient contraceptives which caused a chemical abortion that you aren't aware even happened. You may have made a covenant with death, and death is a cruel master. Repent! Come to Jesus. Let Him break the power of death and give you life to the full (Jn 10:10).
In this holiest of weeks, ask Jesus to break any bonds of death in your life. Make a full Confession. Place yourself under the protection of Jesus, the Life (Jn 11:25; 14:6). "I have set before you life and death...Choose life...that you...may live" (Dt 30:19).
| PRAYER: | Father, use me to help overturn this present culture of death and replace it with a civilization of love and life. |
| PROMISE: | "The Lord is my life's Refuge; of whom should I be afraid?" –Ps 27:1 |
| PRAISE: | Mel, a company vice-president, receives the Eucharist each morning before starting his workday. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College