10 May
Thu 		4th Week of Easter
Acts 13:13-25
Ps. 89:2-3, 21-22, 25, 27
Jn. 13:16-20
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"No servant is greater than his master, no apostle greater than the one who sent him". Matthew (Mt. 10:24) and Luke (Lk. 6:40) record almost identically a saying of Jesus, a good sign that we have here a saying of Jesus that entered deeply into the memory and consciousness of the early Church.

Later on, in chapter 15, John records that Jesus recalled these words for His disciples and developed them in terms of the persecution they would undergo because they were His disciples, disciples of the Suffering Servant of God. There is also the encouragement that we should strive to live out the positive side of this saying of Jesus: we should strive to be more and more like the Lord and Master whom we worship as Christ Jesus the Son of God.

People often rejected Jesus, but people also frequently welcomed and accepted Him. Acts records for us a similar experience on the part of the early Church. In our own preaching of the Gospel we can expect the same. While rejection of the Gospel may discourage us, we must, in the tranquillity of the prayer of faith, learn to see the positive presence of grace in our work, as people do receive the word of the Lord with joy and peace.


Lord Jesus, may I be Your true disciple, Your true servant.

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 refugee women, supported and respected, may find the strength to overcome the violence and suffering they are subjected to
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 refugee women, supported and respected, may find the strength to overcome the violence and suffering they are subjected to

The responsibility for many political decisions leading to war rests predominantly with men. Consequently, while men get wounded or die, women and children become refugees exposed to assault, rape or loss of children. The ones who suffer most in these conflicts are the weakest who get uprooted and are forced to flee. This is not the way humanity is supposed to live.

Like all refugees women and girls face problems of various kinds and need the following: protection against forced return to their countries of origin; security against armed attacks and other forms of violence; protection from unjustified and unduly prolonged detention; a legal status that accords them adequate social, economic and legal rights; and access to basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing and medical care. They also need protection against human rights abuses and the myriad problems they have to encounter to safeguard their dignity and personhood.

We are asked to be in solidarity with them and pray that refugee women may find the strength to overcome the violence and suffering they are subjected to.



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