Shalom

29 Apr Mon	5th Week of Easter St Catherine of Siena, Virgin & Doctor
	Acts 14:5-18 Ps. 114:1-2,3-4,15-16 Jn. 14:21-26

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Success can be as bad as failure as Paul and Barnabas discovered on their first missionary journey. Caught between the persecution of their own people and the misunderstanding of the unbelievers, how were they to get the message across? Today's preachers and healers should follow the example of Paul and Barnabas in realising that '. . . we are merely servants . . . ' (Lk. 17:10). It is necessary to walk free from both praise and blame in order to preach effectively, and be used by God to release people from all their idols.

The true worshipful response is to show love to God in the way God finds acceptable, namely to keep His commandments and live by His Word. As we grow in obedience to His will we 'free' Him to manifest Himself to us. But if the unbelief and the idols of the world occupy the throne of our hearts then we effectively block the Lord's loving approach. We must journey, not only into mission territories but also into our own depths where in mutual loving intimacy the Holy Spirit can teach and guide us into all truth. It is there that we learn to give God the glory and His Word comes alive in us. Only then can His Word flow from us in a life-giving stream to others as we preach.

Lord, help me to realise that I am called to serve You.

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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