Shalom

15 Apr Mon	3rd Week of Easter
	Acts 6:8-15 Ps. 119:23-24,26-27,29-30 Jn. 6:22-29

How To Pray With Shalom

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Psalm 119 is the longest in the Psalter. At times it can sound quite tiresome, because the author seems to delight in using every possible word for "law": law, commandment, rule, precept, command, decree, statutes and so on. This great variety of terms bears witness to more than the author's ingenuity, however. His heart rejoices in the law of God to such a depth that he can only express his joy and delight by ringing the changes on the terms for law. This delight in God's law is part of God's revelation and is a necessary corrective to the unhealthy attitude to that Law which was criticized by both Jesus and Paul.

The Psalm was born of the author's delight and joy, and so contains phrases and expressions to delight us also and to help us to pray. Today's selection is almost a commentary of the story of Stephen in Acts. "The way of truth I have chosen": the life and death of Stephen brought this phrase from the Psalm to a new depth of meaning, for in choosing "the way of truth", Stephen chose Jesus above life itself. For every Christian, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Holy Spirit, lead us in the way of truth that we may in all things choose Jesus and live by His Gospel.

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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