29 Nov
Thu 		34th Week in Ordinary Time
Dan. 6:12-28
(R. Ps.) Dan. 3:68-74
Lk. 21:20-28
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In spite of the penalty of death Daniel remained a faithful Jew and prayed three times daily, consciously going against the king's law. His faithfulness to the one true God was rewarded when the lions failed to perform as expected! The consequence of this was that King Darius acknowledged publicly, by decree, the great power of the God of Daniel: 'His kingdom shall never be destroyed', and, 'He delivers and rescues'.

Jesus continues His prophecy of the approaching end when they will see 'the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory'. He encourages them to 'look up and raise your heads' for redemption is near. We too should remember these words in times of great strife or upheavel, for Jesus is at hand always.


Lord, keep us in Your love and let Your peace fill the world.

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 holy and exemplary men and women may be our companions in proclaiming boldly the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
Elaboration

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P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H    

INTENTION : That holy and exemplary men and women may be our companions in proclaiming boldly the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

"They began to proclaim the word of God boldly" (Acts 4:31). The word "boldly" can also be translated as "audaciously" or with "forthrightness" in announcing the Christian message. The ideal agents of evangelisation should be "holy and exemplary persons". Though God could have spread His Kingdom without human collaboration, He has always sought human partners, who as suitable and free instruments, work for the salvation of humankind.

The laity can evangelise chiefly through prayer, the testimony of life and the establishment of a temporal order inspired by the Gospel. Though preaching the Gospel is the competence and principal duty of those who have been ordained, lay people, who have the necessary theological training, can preach.

Vatican II stresses the need for priests to be holy preachers. God ordinarily prefers to show his wonders through those men who are more submissive to the impulse and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because of their intimate union with Christ and their holiness of life, they are able to say with St Paul: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Gal. 2:20). Let us therefore pray that all those who devote themselves directly to evangelisation may live a holy life that emphasises the credibility of the Christian message.



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