9 Dec Sat Sat 1st Week of Advent Is. 30:19-21, 23-26 Ps. 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 Mt. 9:35-10:1, 6-8 How To Pray With Shalom Home Page of Shalom Index of This Month        Isaiah points to the future as a time of relief. The prophet reassures the distressed inhabitants of Jerusalem: 'you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you . . . ' (Is. 30:19). The future will bring God's self-disclosure: 'your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher' (v. 20). God will relieve the afflicted: '. . . the Lord binds up the hurt of his people, and heals the wounds . . . ' (v. 26).     When this prophetic passage is linked liturgically wiht today's Gospel, a pattern of promise and fulfilment emerges. Matthew's Gospel summarizes Jesus' activities as 'teaching . . . preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity' (Mt. 9:35). Frequently, we resemble those who have experienced distress. We become 'harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Mt. 9:36). We imagine wrongly that we have been wounded by God's 'blows' (Is. 30:26). For these discouraged dispositions, Advent offers a reassuring message that 'you shall weep no more' (Is. 30:19) and 'your eyes shall see your Teacher' (Is. 30:20).      Lord, let Your compassion be our relief. 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 the celebration of the Jubilee may become the source of a new commitment in men and women of good will to protect and promote human life. MORE
- END - P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H     INTENTION : That the celebration of the Jubilee may become the source of a new commitment in men and women of good will to protect and promote human life. In the threshold of the year 2001, it is our duty to renew our commitment to safeguarding the dignity of the poor and marginalised and to recognise in a practical way the rights of those who have no rights. This is the spirit of the new millennium which presupposes the following: The basic right to life which is inviolable which involves a positive choice for life. The development of a culture of this kind embraces all the circumstances of life and ensures the promotion of human dignity in every situation. Recent developments in the field of genetic engineering present a profoundly disquieting challenge. In order that scientific research in this area may be at the service of the person, it must be accompanied at every stage by careful ethical reflection, which will bring about adequate legal norms safeguarding the integrity of human life. Life can never be downgraded to the level of a thing. To choose life involves rejecting every form of violence. In every circumstance, the right to life must be promoted and safeguarded with appropriate legal and political guarantees. Let us raise our voices on their behalf. - END -