31Jul
Tue 		17th Week in Ordinary Time
St Ignatius of Loyola, priest
Ex. 33:7-11, 34:5b-9, 28
Ps. 103:6-13
Mt. 13:36-43
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In the tent of meeting God would speak to Moses 'face to face, as a man speaks with his friend'. It was considered impossible to see God face to face, or to hear God's voice, without perishing, so strong was the belief of the people of the Old Testament in man's unworthiness in face of the transcendent sanctity of God. Yet, this God of majesty and awe speaks intimately to Moses; and even on the mountain where God's majesty had first been revealed he now proclaims himself a God of tenderness and compassion, ready to pardon the people's faults and to adopt them as His heritage. Too strong to stress on human unworthiness in God's presence seems to be questioned in the explanation of the parable of the darnel in today's Gospel passage. The kingdom of God is inhabited by people of many different levels of commitment. The decision on who is or is not worthy, is for God alone. And we must not forget that the God who makes this judgement is a God of compassion who knows of what we are made, and remembers that we all are dust.


Lord, show us Your mercy and love.

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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