Shalom

7 Mar Thu	3rd Week of Lent
	Jer. 7:23-28 Ps. 95:1-2,6-7,8-9 Lk. 11:14-23

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In today's Gospel, Jesus warns us that the devil is strong, and that if we are not constantly on our guard he will overpower us. The devil we rejected in our baptism is insidious and persistent in trying to claim us for himself. Our only defense is to fill the void left by the devil with the love of God and neighbour.

The devil these days uses many different weapons in the hope of destroying Christian love in our hearts. One is rugged individualism, which in its false independence and pride refuses to see the necessity of depending on God for anything. Another is the raging globalisation which considers the accumulation of possessions and extension of power as the goal of life, but not the love of God. Still a third weapon is indifference, which dulls the Christian awareness about the needs of others. Last to be mentioned here is the subtle yet extremely effective weapon of smug complacency. This complacency is seen in a baptised person who feels that his eternal salvation is assured and all that is left for him to do is to fulfill the mere letter of the law. This last weapon is frequently the first to be used by the devil to get his foot in the door, for then he can utilize the destructive force of rugged individualsim, globalisation and indifference to their fullest extent.

Jesus warns that if we are strong "our possessions will go undisturbed". Our greatest strength comes from an unselfish, generous love of God and neighbour.

Lord, help me to be aware of the needs of others.

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
For the ecclesial organisations and groups engaged in social action, that in their testimony they may proclaim strongly and consistently the Gospel of Love.
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 :	For the ecclesial organisations and groups engaged in social action, that in their testimony they may proclaim strongly and consistently the Gospel of Love.
It is the Church's desire that all social-charitable initiatives might always be inspired, in their implementation, by the immutable principles of the Gospel. There is danger, however, that professional organisations engaged in the social field risk losing the fundamental motivation for their existence: that is bearing witness to Christ's charity which the Church has the duty to communicate and to share with others. In order to be effective, then, continual spiritual formation is needed for voluntary co-operators who wish to devote themselves to social action. All these initiatives tend to develop the awareness that the foundation and centre of our action is Christ, in whom the God of love revealed himself and gave himself to men and women. Consequently all those who welcome Christ follow him and answer the call to be faithful witnesses to it. This awareness must totally imbue the hearts and minds of individuals so that it also inspires the Communities they set up for organised action in support of underprivileged persons and communities suffering from material and moral poverty. Being thus imbued and formed it becomes necessary that volunteers pray to draw Christ into their midst and have him accompany them.
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