20Sep
Thu
24th Week in Ordinary Time
St Andrew Kim Taegon & Comp martyrs
1 Tim. 4:12-16
Ps. 111:7-8, 9, 10
Lk. 7:36-50
How To Pray With Shalom
Home Page of Shalom
Index of This Month
 

Jesus once defended children who proclaimed His glory: even if they were silent the very stones would cry out to defend them. In somewhat similar vein, Paul feels compelled to support and encourage a young fellow-worker, Timothy: "Let no one look down on you because of your youth." Today, we celebrate the memory of the martyr St Andrew Kim Taegon and his martyr companions. This is a reminder that every nation and every people on earth will produce its own martyrs. Feasts of the martyrs also remind us that there are different ways of bearing witness to Jesus. Most of us can celebrate the Eucharist and our feasts in peace and joy whereas others have to sacrifice much, even their lives, for the truth.



Lord, You call most of us, old and young, to bear witness to the truth of Jesus in the ordinary circumstances of our daily lives. May the blood of the Martyrs of the Church be a source of strength and hope for us.

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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