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/* What it does: Remove spaces around the email design added by some
email clients. */
/* Beware: It can remove the padding / margin and add a background
color to the compose a reply window. */
html,
body {
Margin: 0 !important;
padding: 0 !important;
height: 100% !important;
width: 100% !important;
text-align: center;
}

/* What it does: Stops email clients resizing small text. */
* {
-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;
-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;
}

/* What is does: Centers email on Android 4.4 */
div[style*="margin: 16px 0"] {
margin:0 !important;
}

/* What it does: Stops Outlook from adding extra spacing to tables.
*/
table,
td {
mso-table-lspace: 0pt !important;
mso-table-rspace: 0pt !important;
}

/* What it does: Fixes webkit padding issue. Fix for Yahoo mail table
alignment bug. Applies table-layout to the first 2 tables then removes
for anything nested deeper. */
table {
border-spacing: 0 !important;
border-collapse: collapse !important;
table-layout: fixed !important;
Margin: 0 auto !important;
}
table table table {
table-layout: auto;
}

/* What it does: Uses a better rendering method when resizing images
in IE. */
img {
-ms-interpolation-mode:bicubic;
}

/* What it does: Overrides styles added when Yahoo's auto-senses a
link. */
.yshortcuts a {
border-bottom: none !important;
}

/* What it does: A work-around for iOS meddling in triggered links.
*/
.mobile-link footer a,
a[x-apple-data-detectors] {
color:inherit !important;
text-decoration: underline !important;
}
-->

<!--
/* What it does: Hover styles for buttons */
.button-td,
.button-a {
transition: all 100ms ease-in;
}
.button-td:hover,
.button-a:hover {
background: #555555 !important;
border-color: #555555 !important;
}

/* Media Queries */
@media screen and (max-width: 600px) {

.email-container {
width: 100% !important;
}

/* What it does: Forces elements to resize to the full width of their
container. Useful for resizing images beyond their max-width. */
.fluid,
.fluid-centered {
max-width: 100% !important;
height: auto !important;
Margin-left: auto !important;
Margin-right: auto !important;
}
/* And center justify these ones. */
.fluid-centered {
Margin-left: auto !important;
Margin-right: auto !important;
}

/* What it does: Forces table cells into full-width rows. */
.stack-column,
.stack-column-center {
display: block !important;
width: 100% !important;
max-width: 100% !important;
direction: ltr !important;
}
/* And center justify these ones. */
.stack-column-center {
text-align: center !important;
}

/* What it does: Generic utility class for centering. Useful for
images, buttons, and nested tables. */
.center-on-narrow {
text-align: center !important;
display: block !important;
Margin-left: auto !important;
Margin-right: auto !important;
float: none !important;
}
table.center-on-narrow {
display: inline-block !important;
}

}

body {
background-color: #fff;
width: 100%;
margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}

p{
line-height:20px;
}

h1, h2, h3, h4, h5{
color:#7A9534;
}

.signup a {font-family: Roboto Condensed, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;
color: #4F4293; padding-bottom:0px; padding-top: 15px;
font-weight:600; margin-bottom: 0px; text-decoration: none}
-->

Catholic Charities USA


Saturday of the Second Week of Lent

Readings of the Day
[link removed]

 

As I reflected on the readings for today, I couldn't think of
any contribution I could make that would add to the vast array of
commentaries on the famous parable of the prodigal son. Thankfully,
the Holy Spirit had other ideas.

A friend of mine recently plead guilty to federal fraud charges. He
faces years of incarceration. The trauma his actions are causing his
family is incapacitating. Many of us are working to help the family as
best we can.

However, I am having difficulty forgiving him for his seemingly
self-centered behavior. Then, along came the prodigal son
reminder.  In the past, I've always felt sorry for the
angry brother who can't see past his ego to celebrate the
reuniting of his family. As I'm reading the passage now, it hit
me hard. I'm that brother in the life of my friend and his
family.

I have no idea why my friend committed the crimes he admitted to
committing. Just like we have no idea why the prodigal son left in the
first place. But, true forgiveness can't be found in the search
for the motivation of others. Or, in the impact of the sins on others.
True forgiveness comes from God's mercy.

I pray that this mercy finds its way into my heart so that I can join
my friend and his family when they are back together again. And, to be
a real friend to him now, during his incarceration.

And that lesson needs to be carried into my work with returning
citizens and all people in need.

"Who is a God like you, who removes guilt and pardons sin for
the remnant of his inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever,
but instead delights in mercy." Micah 7:18

Jack Murphy is a volunteer with The Society of St. Vincent de Paul. He
is conference president of St. Thomas Aquinas parish in Alpharetta, GA
and is national director of Advocacy and Systemic Change for The
Society.





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