5 Feb Mon 5th Week in Ordinary Time Gen. 1:1-19 Ps. 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 24, 35 Mk. 6:53-56 How To Pray With Shalom Home Page of Shalom Index of This Month        Genesis begins with the story of the whole human race. After the first twelve chapters, however, it becomes the story of one man and one race. Abraham and his descendants the Jewish people. The universal story becomes a particular story. This creates a certain problem: are we to believe that among all the races of the world God chose one as a special possession of his own? This problem is often referred to as "the scandal of particularity", and it runs through many of our reflections. What Genesis tells us is celebrated in Psalm 104: the creator of this magnificent universe is a majestic God. Can we then believe that so great and magnificent a God can be concerned with me? Is it possible that the God who is praised in Psalm 104 became a particular baby in Bethlehem, in a particular race at a particular time? Some people find this too much to believe. They are scandalized by this particularity. Yet that is where the truth resides: the God of the universe did walk through particular villages and towns, marketplaces and crossroads, healing individual sick people.           Lord, in Your wisdom You have made us and loved us. May we always bless You and praise You. DAILY OFFERING Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen. PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH INTENTION That children will never again be obliged to participate in any war, but may be freed from hatred and violence and may live, as children should, enjoying friendship in their family, school and society. Elaboration
- END - P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H     INTENTION : That children will never again be obliged to participate in any war, but may be freed from hatred and violence and may live, as children should, enjoying friendship in their family, school and society. The international community is increasingly recognising the vulnerability of displaced children in refugee camps. They are at particular risk of being exploited by armed groups. As recruited soldiers children suffer disproportionately from the general rigours of military life. Younger children may have deformed backs and shoulders, the result of carrying loads too heavy for them. Malnutrition, respiratory and skin infections and other ailments are frequent, as are sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS. The use of child soldiers also has repercussion on other children who remain in the conflict area. The risk, is that children will be killed, detained interrogated, or subject to pre-emptive recruitment. We must not close our eyes to the fact that child soldiers are not victims and perpetrators. No matter what the child is guilty of, the main responsibility lies with us, the adults. To stop this abuse, no child under 18 should be recruited for or participate in war. There is simply no excuse, no acceptable argument for arming children. - END -