23 Apr
Tue 		4th Week of Easter
St Adalbert, bishop & martyr
Acts 11:19-26
Ps. 87:1-3,4-5,6-7
Jn. 10:22-30
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The readings of the day are broadly concerned with people becoming faithful followers of Christ. The first reading details how the disciples went about preaching about Jesus and how they were quite successful in converting a large number of people to Christ. Barnabas refers to the first Christians as those people of Antioch who came to live together as followers of Christ.

John's Gospel explores this theme as well. Only here we have Jesus Himself saying to the Jews that He is the Christ. However, the Jews do not believe Him. Jesus points out that His faithful followers do follow Him and they do not have any need to ask who He is. They know Jesus and He knows them. It is with the gift of faith that Jesus' followers know these things.

John's account implies a great deal of trust as well. There is trust built into the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep. The followers of Christ (the sheep) trust that Jesus (the shepherd) will know what is good for them and in this case will lead them to eternal life. This is precisely where Jesus will lead us if we trust Him completely.


Lord, help us in this life and lead us to eternal happiness.

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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