11 Jan
Fri 		Friday after Epiphany
1 Jn. 5:5-13
Ps. 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20
Lk. 5:12-16
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The miraculous cure of the leper reveals the all powerful will and word of Jesus. This healing also resulted in the integration of the healed person into the community for salvation affects the whole person - body and soul.

Jesus' command "to tell no one" is used by Luke to highlight the effect of the miracle. In spite of this injunction, reports about him and his works spread all the more.

So, in the midst of so many busy activities, it is significant that Jesus withdrew Himself from the crowds in order to enter into communication with the Father in the solitude of the wilderness (Lk. 5:15). This shows Jesus' intimate relationship with the Father through prayer in the midst of activities and popularity. This is also what we, as children of God, need to be constantly reminded of, that is, the need to grow in our relationship with God so that our services to our fellowmen will be one borne out of our loving relationship with God.

The First Reading also assures us that God has given us eternal life through Jesus. And "Who can overcome the world?" except those who believe in Jesus. This gives us the grace to face the daily challenges in our lives.


Lord, grant us the sensitivity to be constantly aware of Your presence in our lives.

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 Christians may intensify their efforts to announce together Jesus Christ, the only Saviour of the world.
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 Christians may intensify their efforts to announce together Jesus Christ, the only Saviour of the world.

In the Apostolic Letter At the Beginning of the New Millennium Pope John Paul II looks towards the future and exhorts the members of the Church not to be afraid to leave the coastal waters "where there is nothing to fish" and move into deep waters. If we are prepared to do this, our catch will be abundant. The Pope particularly exhorts Christ's disciples to intensify their efforts to bring greater unity in the Christian Community.

The invocation "Launch out into the deep" is a binding imperative, the strength that sustains us, and a salutary rebuke for our slowness and closed-heartedness. It is on Jesus' prayer and not on our own strength that we base the hope that even within history we shall be able to reach full and visible communion with all Christians.

Our trust that we may succeed in attaining the full and visible communion of all Christians, "rests on Jesus' prayer, not on our own capacity". The Lord calls us to unity and will not fail to pour forth His grace on us. But in this context also, as in all our relations with God's salvific grace, we too must do our share. God does not save us against our will; God does not save us if we do not collaborate towards our salvation.



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