25Jul
Wed
Feast of St James, Apostle
2 Cor. 4:7-15
Ps. 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
Mt. 20:20-28
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"Never crushed, never in despair, never abandoned, never destroyed". Thus Paul declares and celebrates the triumph of grace. He is speaking of his own experience, but what he says was true of each of the Apostles. It is also true of every martyr and confessor who has gone through the passion of Jesus in great hope of the resurrection. Paul's words are true of the Church in every age and circumstance. The Church has often been persecuted and "afflicted in every way possible".

The Feast of St James is a reminder that the Church is always a martyr Church, for he was the first of the Apostles to suffer martyrdom. This martyr Church bears witness to Christ just as each of the Apostles bore witness to Christ in life and in death. While the world presecutes the Church, the gates of hell shall never prevail against it. The Church lives forever as the source of grace and the promise of hope for the world. Each martyrdom is a new triumph of grace. As the death of Jesus on the Cross brought us the fullness of life, so every martyrdom shares in the victory of life over death.



Lord Jesus, may the triumph of all Your Apostles and martyrs inspire and console Your Church.

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 the Gospel, may be read and lived in Christian families by parents and children, so that they may bear witness to the hope of Christ
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 the Gospel, may be read and lived in Christian families by parents and children, so that they may bear witness to the hope of Christ

Abraham and Mary received a wonderful promise from God. For both Abraham and Mary, the divine promise came as something completely unexpected. God disrupted the daily course of their lives, overturning its settled rhythms and conventional expectations. The promise seemed impossible. We must learn to walk in darkness.

Modelling ourselves on Mary, we ask her to help us look at and to listen to, to ponder and to penetrate the deep and mysterious meaning of the very simple, very humble and very beautiful appearing of the Son of God. We pray for a great renewal of faith in all the children of the Church everywhere to preach the good news to the poor. We ask her to teach us the way of humble and joyful obedience to the Gospel in the service of our brothers and sisters, without preferences and without prejudices. A deep renewal that is not just reflected in a general attitude to life, but as a conscious and courageous profession of the Creed. We ask the Holy Family to inspire all Christians to defend the family against so many present-day threats to its nature, its stability and its mission. We pray the efforts of Christians and of all people of good will to defend life and to promote respect for the dignity of every human being.




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