Shalom

22 Nov Thu	33rd Week in Ordinary Time
	1 Mac. 2:15-29 Ps. 50:1-2, 5-6, 14-15 Lk. 19:41-44

How To Pray With Shalom

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Today's readings emphasize "perseverance, constancy, commitment" no matter what difficulties we may encounter. The first reading from the First Book of Maccabees presents to us an outstanding example: the temple of Jerusalem, centre of worship for the faithful Israelities, has been disgraced. Furthermore, many prohibitions against true worship are proclaimed. Then Mattathias and his sons, faithful to the Law of the Lord, mourn and revolt against the officials who forced the people to the apostasy. To keep the covenant is the sign of a noble heart. If there is commitment then there should be adherence. Therefore, through our baptism we commit ourselves to serve the Lord and to follow this commitment should be our basic interest. The Gospel of St Luke teaches how the people of Jerusalem, who had known well the saving visit of God in Jesus, had rejected Him. Now, there are no more opportunities ... and Jesus weeps for His city. They are tears of compassion and tears of frustration. He has done whatever was possible for His city. Here the power of God has made itself love and weakness in Jesus. God prefers "the cry of weakness in Jesus instead of taking away the freedom of man" (Stoger). These tears are a call to live our Christian faith. To accept Jesus is the best way to peace. To reject Him is destruction. Only in Jesus is salvation.

Lord, You say, "Call on me in time of distress, I will rescue you, and you shall honour me". (Ps. 50).

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 holy and exemplary men and women may be our companions in proclaiming boldly the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
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 holy and exemplary men and women may be our companions in proclaiming boldly the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
"They began to proclaim the word of God boldly" (Acts 4:31). The word "boldly" can also be translated as "audaciously" or with "forthrightness" in announcing the Christian message. The ideal agents of evangelisation should be "holy and exemplary persons". Though God could have spread His Kingdom without human collaboration, He has always sought human partners, who as suitable and free instruments, work for the salvation of humankind. The laity can evangelise chiefly through prayer, the testimony of life and the establishment of a temporal order inspired by the Gospel. Though preaching the Gospel is the competence and principal duty of those who have been ordained, lay people, who have the necessary theological training, can preach. Vatican II stresses the need for priests to be holy preachers. God ordinarily prefers to show his wonders through those men who are more submissive to the impulse and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because of their intimate union with Christ and their holiness of life, they are able to say with St Paul: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Gal. 2:20). Let us therefore pray that all those who devote themselves directly to evangelisation may live a holy life that emphasises the credibility of the Christian message.
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