God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Jn 3:17 His very name means to deliver; to rescue. And so accompanying the Good News the blind see again, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life!
Blessed are we who do not lose faith in Him. For in all our struggles and challenges to carry our cross to follow after Him, He is with us. Likewise signs and wonders will accompany us as we bring the Good News to others. For we carry His presence with us, as we minister through His mercy, peace, love, joy and healing grace.
And so all shall know Him by our love. Amen
Saint John of the Cross Pray for us…
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First reading
Isaiah 45:6-8,18,21-25
I, the Lord, shall create deliverance
Apart from me, all is nothing.
I am the Lord, unrivalled,
I form the light and create the dark.
I make good fortune and create calamity,
it is I, the Lord, who do all this.
Send victory like a dew, you heavens,
and let the clouds rain it down.
Let the earth open
for salvation to spring up.
Let deliverance, too, bud forth
which I, the Lord, shall create.
Yes, thus says the Lord,
creator of the heavens,
who is God,
who formed the earth and made it,
who set it firm,
created it no chaos,
but a place to be lived in:
‘I am the Lord, unrivalled:
there is no other god besides me.
A God of integrity and a saviour:
there is none apart from me.
Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth,
for I am God unrivalled.
‘By my own self I swear it;
what comes from my mouth is truth,
a word irrevocable:
before me every knee shall bend,
by me every tongue shall swear,
saying, “From the Lord alone
come victory and strength.”
To him shall come, ashamed,
all who raged against him.
Victorious and glorious through the Lord shall be
all the descendants of Israel.’
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Gospel
Luke 7:19-23
‘Are you the one who is to come?’
John, summoning two of his disciples, sent them to the Lord to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or must we wait for someone else?’ When the men reached Jesus they said, ‘John the Baptist has sent us to you, to ask, “Are you the one who is to come or have we to wait for someone else?”’ It was just then that he cured many people of diseases and afflictions and of evil spirits, and gave the gift of sight to many who were blind. Then he gave the messengers their answer, ‘Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind see again, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, the Good News is proclaimed to the poor and happy is the man who does not lose faith in me.’
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