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Monday, March 29, 1999

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Holy Week


Isaiah 42:1-7
Psalm 27
John 12:1-11

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the greatest evangelist

"Many Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in Him on account of Lazarus." —John 12:11

Many people went over to Jesus and believed in Him because Lazarus was a walking miracle. After he was dead and buried for four days (Jn 11:39), Jesus raised him from the dead. Some of you are also walking miracles. Use your miracle to lead people to Jesus.

Judas was chosen by Jesus to lead people to Him. Judas probably failed to lead people to Jesus because he sinned by stealing, lying, betraying Jesus, and then committing suicide. If Judas had led anyone to Jesus, Judas' betrayal of Jesus and suicide probably made it difficult for that person to remain faithful to Jesus. Our sins are obstacles in the way of those coming to Jesus.

Possibly many more people came to Jesus because of Mary of Bethany than they did because of the resurrection of Lazarus. Mary of Bethany loved Jesus totally, sacrificially, freely, publicly, and extravagantly (see Jn 12:3ff). For those open to God's grace, Mary's deep and expressive love for Jesus was and still is highly contagious.

Unlike Judas, repent of sin. Like Mary, love Jesus with abandon. Lead more people to Jesus than even the resurrected Lazarus did.

Prayer:  Father, may I help lead millions to believe in You this Holy Week.

Promise:  "Bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness." —Is 42:7

Praise:  Elizabeth walked away praising God from an accident that totaled her car.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, July 23, 1998


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 27, 1998