Believe the Works

March 14, 2008

Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent

But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph. In their failure they will be put to utter shame, to lasting, unforgettable confusion. O LORD of hosts, you who test the just, who probe mind and heart, Let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause. Jeremiah 20:11-12

If I do not perform my Father's works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize (and understand) that the Father is in me and I am in the Father. John 10:37-38

Piety

Dear Father, on this last Friday of Lent before the Triduum, please put an end to our lasting, unforgettable confusion. Help us to see as clearly as when you look into our hearts and our minds. By allowing us to see clearly, you will strengthen our faith and resolve to believe in the words and works of your Son who taught us about your great commitment and covenant with us for all time. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/031408.shtml

Test the Just. In this week when news has been dominated by gossip of the Fall of the House of Spitzer and political opponents who are tearing each other apart and down, we are challenged to put our faith in what matters – the works of God – and not to worry about our persecutors who will stumble.

The Jews are starting to turn on Jesus everywhere He looks. They are ready to stone him and turn him over to the authorities for claiming to be God. Despite the awesome power that God entrusted to Jesus, the Son does not use this power for vengeance. Instead, time after time, story after story, scripture teaches us to be humble and not to judge others just as Jesus was humble and did not judge the world, but saved it. If we entrust our cause to the Lord, then we will thrive.

Action

The people of Darfur know what it is like to be persecuted. Yet the international community seems to offer only lip service to their light. Here is an update and a plea for your support to help spur people in power to act to save them. Thank you for anything you do to help the people of Darfur.

(The rest of this message is from Colleen Connors, posted at www.SaveDarfur.Org)

"One World, One Dream." That is China's slogan for the 2008 Olympic Games it will host this summer in Beijing.

But China is not living up to its own idyllic motto. Genocide is raging in Darfur, but China continues to support the people that orchestrate it - the Sudanese government.

The Chinese government has been using the Olympics to mark China's ascension as a world power. China must use this power to end genocide in Darfur.

Can you help provide the resources we need to pressure China to stop enabling genocide in the lead up to the summer Olympics?

Recent victories demonstrate our ability to drive political progress. Thanks in large part to the efforts of Darfur activists, in the past few weeks we have:

• Flooded the White House and Congress with 67,864 letters asking them to pressure China to help resolve the crisis in Darfur.
• Kept the spotlight squarely on the Beijing Games, leading Steven Spielberg to resign his post as an advisor to the 2008 Olympics and publicly denounce the Chinese government's role in the genocide.
• Sent 34,568 messages directly to President Hu Jintao of China urging him to do everything in his power to end genocide.

Our efforts are beginning to make a difference and China is beginning to feel the pressure of the international community.

Together, we can convince China to change course on Darfur and help restore peace to the region.