27 Jan Sat 3rd Week in Ordinary Time St Angela Merici, virgin Heb. 11:1-2, 8-19 (R. Ps.) Lk. 1:69-70; 71-72, 73-75 Mk. 4:35-41 How To Pray With Shalom Home Page of Shalom Index of This Month        Once again the author of Hebrews emphasises the importance of faith. Like Abraham and the other great characters of faith-filled lives we must continue to trust that our lives are in the loving hands of God.     But when the Apostles were tossed with problems they cried out, "Master do you not care? We are going down!" How many times have these words found an echo in our own hearts? Swamped by anxiety, we fear that Jesus cannot be reached. Indeed, as turmoil mounts we begin to experience such as the above. It tells us that in spite of turmoil, frustration and anger Jesus is with us, is at our side. It assures us that He will not reject us but will answer our pleas for salvation with the effective words: "Quiet now! Be calm!"      Lord, You are the peace of my life. 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 -