27 Jul
Sat 		16th Week in Ordinary Time
Jer. 7:1-11
Ps. 84:3,4,5-6,8,11
Mt. 13:24-30
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Jeremiah questions those who come in pilgrimage to the Temple of Jerusalem denouncing the hypocrisy of the people. He recalls the conditions of the Covenant of Sinai: only in following the will of God will He dwell in the Temple. The Temple is a place for personal relationship with God; without God's presence the Temple will see its destruction. To avoid this destruction, the prophet invites all to live a sincere and genuine life.

The parable of today's Gospel, which Jesus explains later on to His disciples, manifests the co-existence in the Kingdom of good and evil. The kingdom of God will go on suffering internal and external hardships until the final light will shine. But this invites us, believers, to a serious reflection to live more in the light and work so that the true light of Christ will shine in us and through us.


Lord Jesus, be more in me and through me, work to be true Light in the world with 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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