Shalom

3Sep Mon	22nd Week in Ordinary Time
	1 Thes. 4:13-18 Ps. 96:1, 3-5, 11-13 Lk. 4:16-30

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'We shall stay with the Lord forever . . . console one another' Jesus walked away from discord, His mission is to be reconciler, peacemaker. The enraged Nazareth folk could not accept that one of their own be the expected saviour, the figure of hope in Isaiah's book of consolation.

Many walk away from Jesus today. In Church the promise and reality of union with the risen Jesus are held out to us. 'It will be the same for those who have died in Jesus: God will bring them with him.' Paul's words console us especially when read at a farewell mass. Faith in life after death hesitates in today's doubt-laden atmosphere which constantly suggests that human life is all here. We must question ourselves as Christians: Is our grieving the pain of our loss or a sense that life is indeed ended? The preface of Christian death echoes Paul's encouraging words. 'Lord, for your faithful people life is changed, not ended . . . we rise at your word to the glory of the resurrection.'

Rejection of Jesus today is too often a group reaction, a peer group pressure, an unwillingness to question so-called 'current wisdom'. We stand by scripture and church; we have deep roots in a past of apostles and evangelists.

Lord, to whom shall I go, You have the words of eternal 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 the adolescents and young people of the third millennium may discover a profound ideal to devote themselves 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 the adolescents and young people of the third millennium may discover a profound ideal to devote themselves to.
"Lord Jesus, you have made these young people your friends; keep them for ever close to you! Amen." This closing prayer of John Paul II at the Mass in Korazim in the Holy Land last year indicates the deep concern he has for the youth of the third millennium. At the Mount of Beatitudes, the Holy Father looked down on the assembled youth and said, "How may generations before us have been deeply moved by the Sermon on the Mount! How many young people down the centuries have gathered around Jesus to learn the words of eternal life, as you are gathered here today! It is wonderful that you are here!" The ideal the Holy Father proposes to the youth of today is that they look at Jesus, who embodies the Beatitudes. They will see what it means to be poor in spirit, gentle and merciful, to mourn, to care for what is right, to be pure in heart, to make peace, to be persecuted. He challenges them to go out into the world and preach the message of the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes which speak of truth and goodness, and grace and freedom: of all that is necessary to enter Christ's Kingdom. Now it is their turn to be courageous apostles of that kingdom.
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