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Today's first reading is not a continuous passage, but a selection of verses from Chapter 23 of Leviticus. This selection of verses has been made to provide a reasonably clear list of some of the major feast days of Israel: Passover in springtime; then, Pentecost fifty days later. These are followed by two autumn festivals: the Day of Atonement and Tabernacles. Feasts were thus an important part of Old Testament life. They provided an opportunity for thanking and praising God.
As Christians, we continue to celebrate Passover, which has now become our Easter, the feast of the Resurrection. We also continue to celebrate Pentecost, but now it is the feast of the coming of the Holy Spirit. For us, the real Day of Atonement is Good Friday, when Jesus died to take away our sins.
We continue to celebrate, for our faith teaches us that thanksgiving and praise are important aspects of our prayer life, along with petition and adoration. To celebrate is to remember God and so to remember who we are and where we stand in relation to God.
Lord, at each feast day of the Church, grant us grace and wisdom, that we may enter more deeply into the mystery of Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, and so honour Him with our lives of faith, hope and love.
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DAILY OFFERING
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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.
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PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
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INTENTION
That researchers in scientific and technological fields, may welcome the church's incessant calls to make wise and responsible use of the successes they have attained.
Elaboration
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