Shalom

15 Jul Sun	15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)
	Deut. 30:10-14 Ps. 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37 Col. 1:15-20 Lk. 10:25-37

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All the "commandments and statutes that are written in this book of the law" may well seem very complicated and unnecessarily burdensome. Moses suggests that they can, however, be gathered together towards one purpose: to help us to return to the Lord our God with all our heart and soul. Wherever and whenever the Word of God is spoken to us, it will always be an expression of God's desire that we be united with Him forever in eternal life and eternal bliss.

The question of how best to express the essence of the law was one that exercised the minds of many of Jesus' contemporaries. Thus the lawyer could ask: "What must I do to inherit everlasting life?" While he could read all the commandments and statutes written in the book of law, he needed assurance about the most essential element in all of them. He was trying to grasp the core meaning of all that was required. Even when he did have a good answer for Jesus, there was still the puzzle: "Who is my neighbour?" The lawyer's question was most likely a reasonably honest one, but Jesus gave it greater depth by turning it around: "Who can you be neighbour to?"

Lord, grant us the wisdom and compassion to know how to respond to those in need.

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 Gospel, may be read and lived in Christian families by parents and children, so that they may bear witness to the hope of Christ
Elaboration

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P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H

INTENTION :	That the Gospel, may be read and lived in Christian families by parents and children, so that they may bear witness to the hope of Christ
Abraham and Mary received a wonderful promise from God. For both Abraham and Mary, the divine promise came as something completely unexpected. God disrupted the daily course of their lives, overturning its settled rhythms and conventional expectations. The promise seemed impossible. We must learn to walk in darkness. Modelling ourselves on Mary, we ask her to help us look at and to listen to, to ponder and to penetrate the deep and mysterious meaning of the very simple, very humble and very beautiful appearing of the Son of God. We pray for a great renewal of faith in all the children of the Church everywhere to preach the good news to the poor. We ask her to teach us the way of humble and joyful obedience to the Gospel in the service of our brothers and sisters, without preferences and without prejudices. A deep renewal that is not just reflected in a general attitude to life, but as a conscious and courageous profession of the Creed. We ask the Holy Family to inspire all Christians to defend the family against so many present-day threats to its nature, its stability and its mission. We pray the efforts of Christians and of all people of good will to defend life and to promote respect for the dignity of every human being.
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