Mind, Heart, and Strength (Mk 12:30) by Shane Kapler

13 Mar Mind, Heart, and Strength (Mk 12:30) by Shane Kapler

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” ~ Mk 12:30 (full readings)
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Shane’s Reflections:  We Christians refer to Jesus’ quotation of Deuteronomy 6:4-5 as the Great Commandment. The Jewish people refer to it as the Shema, and recite it at the beginning and end of each day. Have you ever noticed how it parallels the Sign of the Cross that Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians use to begin and end all their times of prayer? The Sign of the Cross is made by touching the forehead (the mind), heart, and then both shoulders (strength). Every time it is used, the Christian professes his/her faith: Through the Cross of Christ we enter into the inner life of the Father, Son, and Spirit; and, by grace, we are empowered to do so with “all our mind, all our heart, and all our strength.”
* Shane Kapler is the author of Through, With, and In Him: The Prayer Life of Jesus and How to Make It Our Own and The God Who is Love: Explaining Christianity From Its Center. He is online at www.explainingchristianity.com..

Faith Challenge:   As we continue our journey through Lent, accept today’s challenge to pray the Sign of the Cross, slowly and deliberately, three different times on behalf of:  First, the unborn and their parents.  Second, all those who have had, or have participated in, abortions.  And Finally, the politicians and judges who have prevented abortion from being outlawed.

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel..
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Our Prayers: Pray LIFE Runners Creed to End Abortion.  Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, unceasingly. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day:  Blessed Agnello of Pisa
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Faith Quote:  “The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” ~ 1 Cor 1:18
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Through Christ our Lord,
Shane Kapler