4 Jul
Thu 		13th Week in Ordinary Time
St Elizabeth of Portugal
Am. 7:10-17
Ps. 18:8,9,10,11
Mt. 9:1-8
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Today's scripture offers two strikingly different images of the way in which the sinner will be treated by God. For Amos, the corrupt and merciless swindlers of his day will suffer retribution. Their joy will turn into mourning, their feasting into fasting. Moreover, there will be no hope of salvation. The Word of God, which Israel has ignored, will cease to be heard.

The Word of God which became flesh is to be heard in today's Gospel, remonstrating with those who ill-treat others. Jesus offers a different image of God's treatment of sinners than that given by Amos. Far from despising them, Jesus socialises with them. Jesus calls a tax-collector, one of the corrupt swindlers whom Amos condemns, to be His companion. While Amos speaks of sinners being cut off from God, Jesus offers table fellowship and conviviality. While Amos prescribes self-sacrifice, Jesus favours mercy over sacrifice.


Patient Creator, compassionate Saviour, merciful Spirit, may both the self-righteous and the sinner come to know 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 artists may do all they can to help the men and women of today to discover the signs of God's providential love in creation.
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 artists may do all they can to help the men and women of today to discover the signs of God's providential love in creation.

The artist who can sculpt the stones of our heart to bring out the features of Christ is the Holy Spirit. However, he requires our responsiveness and docility. Conversion of heart is a work of an art jointly produced by the Spirit and our freedom.

Artists, accustomed to shaping the most diverse materials according to the inspiration of their genius, know well the daily effort required to improve their life that resembles artistic work. Through his artistic creativity the artist accomplishes the task of shaping the "material" of his own humanity and then having dominion over the universe. There is a remarkable similarity between the art of forming oneself and that which takes place in the transformation of matter.

God lets himself be glimpsed through the fascination of beauty. Artists can perceive a ray of supreme beauty among the many manifestations of the beautiful. It is then that art becomes a way to God and it spurs the artists to combine their creative talent with their commitment to a life of ever greater conformity to the divine law. Living profoundly their Christian faith, artists are encouraged to give birth to new "epiphanies" of the divine beauty reflected in creation.



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