Ransom for Many

http://www.usccb.org/nab/072508.shtml

July 25, 2008

Feast of St. James, Apostle

We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

"…Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20: 26-28

Piety

O Glorious Saint James, because of your fervor and generosity Jesus chose you to witness his glory on the Mount and his agony in the Garden. Obtain for us strength and consolation in the unending struggles of this life. Help us to follow Christ constantly and generously, to be victors over all our difficulties, and to receive the crown of glory in heaven. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/072508.shtml

In a foreshadowing of the servant leader who washes the feet of the disciples at the Last Supper, Jesus uses the pride of St. James' mother to reinforce the importance of the virtue of humility. Selflessness is the hallmark of our action. We often undertake some action because of a feeling of reciprocity. We sometimes act because we "owe" something to someone or we want to instill in them an obligation to owe something to us. However, ours is the faith of debt forgiveness. Rather than piling up lists of debtors from which to collect, we should be erasing our list of debtors. Rather than storing up food in our pantries, we should be filling up the pantries at churches and charities.

The ultimate sacrifice is that which the Son of Man has given for us…giving up his very human life in order to ransom those of us held hostage by sin, slaves to our selfishness.

Action

Here is the latest from the National Coalition to abolish the death penalty (a position consistent with Church teachings and the call of bishops around the country).

This coming Monday, July 28, in the Joint Hearing Room of the Legislative Services Building in Annapolis, the Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment will hold its first hearing from 3 to 7pm.  A strong turnout is vital to help show the Commission and others that Maryland citizens are interested, watching and engaged in the process.  Even if you can only attend part of the hearing, we encourage you to come.

If you don't live in Maryland, please think about who you know in Maryland and ask them to go, and to think about who they know....

Anyone who lives in Maryland and is concerned about the death penalty should be certain to sign up with Maryland Citizens Against State Executions in order to be kept up to date as this exciting process moves forward.

Anyone who can attend Monday's hearing or who wants to receive specific notification of future opportunities should also send an e-mail to info@mdcase.org or call Justin at 301-779-5230.

If you know others you can gather to car pool to the hearing, please do so, and let us know.  Also, if you know others who would attend or who are part of another group that might gather and send a car load, please spread the word by forwarding this message, and follow it up with a phone call.