2 Jan Tue Weekday of Christmas Ss Basil the Great & Gregory 1 Jn. 2:22-28 Ps. 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 ; Jn. 1:19-28 How To Pray With Shalom Home Page of Shalom Index of This Month        Today's readings remind Christians of what they believe about Jesus: that He is the Messiah, the Christ, who has come into the world bringing us the gift of eternal life.     Why do they need to be reminded of these things? Because there are people trying to deceive them who have left the community themselves and are now denying the truth about Jesus, the truth that everyone is 'anointed' with on becoming a Christian. Against such people, believers are urged to hold fast to what they learned about Jesus from the beginning and to 'live in' Him.     John the Baptist, in the Gospel reading, is an example of such living. His whole life is a pointer to Jesus; he is the signpost preparing the way of the Lord and marking out his path. John is a strong and clear- headed person who, in knowing Jesus, knows himself too.     And we, who are we? We are modern-day John the Baptists who, by lives of Christian love, are invited to be living 'signposts' for those who have strayed from the pathway to Jesus and for those who are still searching for it.      Lord, keep us on the path to You; and help us to be pathways for one another. 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 Christians may favour the evangelisation of the new generations through the constant search for the unity wanted by Christ. Elaboration
- END - P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H     INTENTION : That Christians may favour the evangelisation of the new generations through the constant search for the unity wanted by Christ. The question of full Christian unity and evangelisation led to the beginnings of the ecumenical movement. The Holy Father decries the negative consequences of division among Christians and calls them to search for full Christian Unity as inspired by the Lord's Prayer. As evangelisers we must offer Christ's faithful an image of people who are mature in faith and capable of finding a meeting point beyond all tensions. The destiny of evangelisation is bound up with the witness of unity given to the Church. The urgency of preaching and displaying unity to the world arises from the fact that Christians can impair the vitality of proclaiming the Gospel and even become a scandal to the world, particularly when the churches appear to proclaim "a kingdom against itself". It is clear that the proclamation of the Gospel by divided Christians becomes counter- itness. As Christians we ought to give collaborative common witness which is founded in the common baptism in Christ and faith in the Triune God. Pray for the courage to work positively with other Christians for the purpose of promoting evangelisation. - END -