3 Aug
Fri 		17th Week in Ordinary Time
Lev. 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37
Ps. 81:2-5, 9-10
Mt. 13:54-58
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Matthew tells us that the people of Jesus' home town would not accept Him. Jesus on His part would not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Do we accept Jesus? Do we accept His Word with faith, with that surrender which does not demand scientific explanation? Does our lack of faith prevent Jesus from working a miracle in us, from transforming us into His own likeness?

What the Lord most desires from us is the kind of confidence which will enable us to entrust our lives and our destinies totally to Him. Paul said that one is justified by faith, and not by works of the Law. This means that we can never earn our own justification or salvation. These always remain a 'grace', a gift from God. We can receive this gift through faith. However, the faith that saves is not a purely passive matter, but a faith that reveals itself in a way of life that conforms to the teaching and the example of Christ.


Lord, help me to entrust my life to 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
The awareness that only God is the master of human life may orientate the decisions of the legislators and leaders of nations
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 : The awareness that only God is the master of human life may orientate the decisions of the legislators and leaders of nations

Evidence shows with increasing clarity how policies and laws opposed to life are causing societies to decline morally, demographically and economically. The encyclical Evangelium Vitae makes the urgent appeal "that we offer this world of ours new signs of hope, and work to ensure that justice and solidarity will increase and that a new culture of human life will be affirmed, for the building of an authentic civilisation of truth and love".

Thus there is no reason for a defeatist mentality which claims that laws opposed to the right of life are inevitable. On the contrary, they are a seed of corruption for society and its foundations. The civil and moral conscience cannot accept this false inevitability. The relationship between the civil and moral law deserves great attention because of the growing importance they are destined to have in the restoration of social life.

Lawmakers are asked to renew their commitment to change unjust laws that legitimise or tolerate such violence. The changing of laws must be preceded and accompanied by the changing of mentalities and morals on a vast scale. The Church cannot spare any effort nor can she accept negligence or guilty silence.



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