26 Jan Fri SS Timothy and Titus, bishops 2 Tim. 1:1-8 or Tit. 1:1-5 Ps. 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 10 Lk. 10:1-9 How To Pray With Shalom Home Page of Shalom Index of This Month        In the fast-track world of e-mail, fax and phone, we seem to have little time these days for saying and writing the kind of personal sentiments that traditional letter-writing allowed. Look even at the personal letters included in the Bible, like those to St Paul's companions and disciples, Ss Timothy and Titus. Paul had given them responsibility for caring for some of the newly-founded Christian communities. But he followed up with encouragement and advice to his friends, giving praise to God for them and sharing his gratefulness for their faith and talents. Saying how their memory gives him joy in the Lord, he tells how he prays for them, and longs to see them soon again. And his special encouragement for Timothy is his prayer that Timothy's gifts, especially the Spirit he received through Paul's hands, might make him bold and strong in sharing his faith with others. These sentiments are also now addressed to each one of us, for our strengthening and encouragement.      Lord, encourage us to appreciate the goodness of our brothers and sisters especially of the use of their talents and gifts. 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 favour the evangelisation of the new generations through the constant search for the unity wanted by Christ. Elaboration
- END - P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H     INTENTION : That Christians may favour the evangelisation of the new generations through the constant search for the unity wanted by Christ. The question of full Christian unity and evangelisation led to the beginnings of the ecumenical movement. The Holy Father decries the negative consequences of division among Christians and calls them to search for full Christian Unity as inspired by the Lord's Prayer. As evangelisers we must offer Christ's faithful an image of people who are mature in faith and capable of finding a meeting point beyond all tensions. The destiny of evangelisation is bound up with the witness of unity given to the Church. The urgency of preaching and displaying unity to the world arises from the fact that Christians can impair the vitality of proclaiming the Gospel and even become a scandal to the world, particularly when the churches appear to proclaim "a kingdom against itself". It is clear that the proclamation of the Gospel by divided Christians becomes counter- itness. As Christians we ought to give collaborative common witness which is founded in the common baptism in Christ and faith in the Triune God. Pray for the courage to work positively with other Christians for the purpose of promoting evangelisation. - END -