10 Apr
Wed 		2nd Week of Easter
Acts 5:17-26
Ps. 34:2-3,4-5,6-7,8-9
Jn. 3:16-21
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"I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth". These words from Psalm 34 could well serve as a summary of the purpose of SHALOM: to help our readers to progress in the way of prayer, so that all of us continually bless and praise the Lord.

The Psalmist indirectly acknowledges that there are other functions of prayer besides blessing and thanksgiving. There is the prayer of petition especially in times of difficulty and sorrow. The afflicted one called out and the Lord heard this prayer of affliction and answered with the gift of salvation.

"I sought the Lord, and he answered me". Searching for the Lord is, then, also a form of prayer. St Augustine teaches us that when we cannot pray we can still desire to pray and that desire for prayer is itself a prayer.

Perhaps the high point of this Psalm's teaching on prayer is: "Look to him that you may be radiant with joy". Contemplating God in silence, beyond the words of praise and petition, will transform our hearts. As it pervades all our words, actions and attitudes, the radiance of our joy will proclaim the attractiveness of Jesus, our crucified and risen Lord.


Lord Jesus, lead me in the way of contemplation that I may be radiant with Your joy.

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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