Shalom

7 Apr Sun	2nd Sunday of Easter (A)
	Acts 2:42-47 Ps. 118:2-4,13-15,22-24 1 Pt. 1:3-9 Jn. 20:19-31

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The Gospel today covers two separate Sundays, the first being the day of the Resurrection. It is the first time the disciples have seen their Risen Lord and they are overcome with joy that He is with them again. There are similarities between this scene and Pentecost with the 'missioning' of the disciples. Jesus breathes the Spirit into them (as God breathed the spirit of life into Adam) and gives them the power and responsibility to be the instruments of reconciliation between people and God. But there is one person, Thomas, missing and it is only a week later that he meets the Risen Jesus. His scepticism is overcome when he sees the wounds of suffering and death. In a profound act of faith in the Man before him, he falls to the ground and says, "My Lord and my God!" Unlike Thomas, we are not given this privilege yet happy are we, says Jesus when we believe in His presence among us. Jesus, before His death, could only be in one place at a time. Now He can be found everywhere. It is our gift and our blessing to be able to find Him in every person, in every place, in every experience. And also to be His presence for others - for He is in each one of us too.

Help us, Lord, to seek, find and respond to You in every person this day.

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 in the many rapid changes taking place in today's world, the importance of the family may be recognised in its fundamental vocation as cradle of life and school of faith and right values
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 in the many rapid changes taking place in today's world, the importance of the family may be recognised in its fundamental vocation as cradle of life and school of faith and right values
The family as a domestic Church and cradle of life is the appropriate setting in which faith can increase. It is here that faith can be nourished through an attitude of appreciation of the treasure which parents are called on to transmit to their children through personal words and testimonies of life. This attitude must then be nourished with a sense of wonder and hope and it must be contemplated as Mary contemplated it in the face of the Word she received and the events of her life. This deep sense of faith helps parents and their children to fulfil the vocation received from God. Parents, teaching their children and bearing witness to the true sense of suffering and dying, lead the young to be more attentive to all forms of suffering. They, thus develop positive attitudes of assistance and sharing with others, especially with weaker people like the sick and the aged. This life of faith must be continually nourished through individual and family prayer. On the strength of this foundation the family becomes a place for training in justice, self-control, temperance, respect for the personal dignity of each individual and the service of the poor and needy.
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