Jesus Hears (Acts 8:32-33) by Laurie Edwards

18 Apr Jesus Hears (Acts 8:32-33) by Laurie Edwards

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors.
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“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its  shearer is silent, so he opened not his mouth.  In his humiliation justice was denied him.  Who will tell of his posterity?  For his life is taken from the earth.“ ~ Acts 8:32-33 (full readings)
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Laurie’s Reflections: Alone on a quiet Lenten Friday afternoon I prayed the Stations of the Cross at St Clare Catholic Church in O’Fallon, IL., where there are new icons in place depicting Jesus’ passion.  At the fifth station, where Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross, my eyes fell upon Jesus’ ear.  They seemed to linger there until suddenly I saw the familiar shape so often seen outlined on ultrasounds.  The (perhaps unintended by the iconographer) truth echoing in that moment was that Jesus, so silent in his passion as described by the prophet Isaiah, hears the silent cries of the unborn on their own way to the slaughter.  His is a tender heart carrying within it the cries of the hurting, the hidden, the lonely, and the innocent condemned… not just in knowing the suffering, but to redeem his creation, to make it new through his resurrection.  Returning to the passage from Acts, when Philip began with this Scripture to describe the Good News, the eunuch received it with faith and was baptized.  Similarly, that our Creator/Redeemer/Sanctifier hears the voice, the cry, of every person is indeed also good news – a starting point from which to share the Good News, not only for the sake of the unborn, but as an invitation for everyone to know our good God.
* Laurie Edwards, formerly the Respect Life Coordinator for the Catholic Diocese of Belleville, is preparing to relocate to Bentonville, Arkansas where her husband Jim’s job has taken him.  There they will be empty nesters with two college students in Missouri.
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Faith Challenge: Be sensitive today for an opportunity to build upon whatever understanding someone has about who God is, what that says about who we are, and what that means about how we treat one another – including the vulnerable and hidden, including in the womb.
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Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel.
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Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day: Blessed James Oldo
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Faith Quote: “God’s love does not distinguish between the infant in the mother’s womb or the child or the youth or the adult or the older person. In each one God sees His image and likeness. Human life is a manifestation of God and His glory.” ~ Pope Benedict XVI
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Through Christ our Lord,
Laurie
Jer 1:5