19 Oct Thu 28th Week in Ordinary Time St John de Brebeuf & Isaac Joques Eph. 1:1-10 Ps. 98:1-6 Lk. 11:47-54 How To Pray With Shalom Home Page of Shalom Index of This Month        In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul presents us with an account of our salvation history. He reminds us that, 'From eternity He (God) destined us in love to be his sons and daughters through Christ thus fulfilling His free and generous will' (Eph. 1:5). Therefore, we who follow Jesus have been called from even before creation to assume the place of sons and daughters, and live our lives accordingly.     However, in the Gospel Jesus admonishes those who claim to be sons and daughters of the Father and yet whose lives do not reflect their status. What's worse is that while falsely clinging on to this privileged position they become a stumbling block for those who wish to enter into a relationship with the Father as true sons and daughters.     Today's readings remind us that we are children of God and that our lives must reflect this relationship. In our contemporary society, there is much need for religious individuals. Persons, whose lifestyle reflect their intimate relationship with the Father. Do our own lives reflect that we are sons and daughters of God?      Dear Lord, grant us the grace to become Your true sons and daughters in our world of today. Amen. 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 young married couples may be sustained by the example and assistance of their parents and other families MORE
- END - P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H     INTENTION : That young married couples may be sustained by the example and assistance of their parents and other families The testimony and help that parents and other families must offer to sustain young married couples finds its place in the ambit of post-matrimonial pastoral care. Parents and other families are the most suited to offer this assistance to young spouses because clearly they have lived personally the values which they must transmit. These parents show faithfulness through living in the best possible way the commitments assumed during their marriage. One could ask, but why is it necessary for young couples to be sustained by the testimony of their parents and other families? The answer is, because today there are many negative attitudes which scandalise and discourage young people. Being new to the condition of matrimonial life they need advice, encouragement, moral support, correction and prayer. They cannot be left alone or abandoned in this phase of their lives. Couples need to take advantage of the wealth of the experience and wisdom of their parents. "The pastoral action of the Church must be progressive, also in the sense that it must accompany the family, following it step by step in the various stages of its formation and development," (Familiaris Consortio n65, 69). - END -