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On this third Sunday of Lent, our reading comes from chapter two of John’s Gospel.

It begins at the Temple of Jerusalem, where Jesus has discovered merchants and moneychangers. Not wanting the scene before him to continue, he overturned their tables and drove them out.

To those around him he proclaimed, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”

When they asked Jesus to prove his authority he replied, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”

Jesus’ response confused his listeners. The temple where they stood took forty-six years to build. The idea of Jesus raising it in three days seemed impossible. But Jesus was not talking about the temple they built. As the Son of God, he was talking about the temple of his body.

In this moment, Jesus predicts his death and resurrection. It’s important to note that John’s Gospel references several moments where Jesus was asked to offer signs of his authority. Jesus’ death and crucifixion was the ultimate sign.

There are several lessons we can take away from this reading. But the one we will focus on today is the power of faith. Through the power of our faith, Jesus rose from the dead. Through the power of our faith, we seek to make the world a better place.

A woman smiling with a cross during churhc service in South Sudan in October 2018.

CMMB’s President and CEO Mary Beth Powers recently led a panel discussion of Catholic women in global health. Together, they discussed their faith and explored the role of Catholic women as agents of peace and trust in the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will conclude this week’s reflection with an excerpt from our blog post about the discussion. In it, you’ll hear from Darnelle Bernier, vice president of our Medical Donations program.

Faith can move mountains. It has been an inspiration for Catholic women at CMMB to do their best by contributing to something greater than themselves for the greater good — delivering locally sustainable, quality health solutions to the poorest of the poor. “The poverty I’ve seen can at times be overwhelming,” said Darnelle Bernier. “I am buoyed by the faith I have and the faith I witness in the communities I have visited.”

We hope these words remind you just how far our faith can take us. You can read more about this inspiring and informative panel discussion by clicking HERE.

In grace and peace,

CMMB

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