Shalom

22 Apr Mon	4th Week of Easter
	Acts 11:1-18 Ps. 42:2-3 43:3,4 Jn. 10:11-18

How To Pray With Shalom

Home Page of Shalom

Index of This Month

"Yes, I'll be there" . . . "Don't worry!". . . "Yes, I will do it". . . "Trust me". . . Promises, promises. Promises made. Promises broken. We have our good intentions, but someone said, "The way to hell is paved with good intentions."

In the Gospel reading, Jesus says, "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep." Nine chapters later, Jesus lays down His life. It was not just talk. It was real. Jesus walked His talk. Now that Easter had happened - we know Good Friday was real. Jesus laid down His life for us. The Good Shepherd, acted on behalf of His sheep. Jesus acted for our deliverance. Our deliverance from death to life; from darkness to light. Jesus is available. He "died" what He said.

There was this story in World War I. A young French soldier seriously wounded had his arm amputated. The surgeon felt very sorry for him. He stood by his bedside so that as soon as he regained consciousness, he could personally tell him of his loss. When told, the soldier replied, "I did not lose it; I gave it - for France." Likewise, Jesus did not lose His life. He gave it for us. Today, the Lord may be challenging us - "lay down your life". Can we walk our talk? Are we available?

Lord, help me to 'lay down my life' for a noble course, Your Will.

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 in the many rapid changes taking place in today's world, the importance of the family may be recognised in its fundamental vocation as cradle of life and school of faith and right values
Elaboration

- END -

P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H

INTENTION :	That in the many rapid changes taking place in today's world, the importance of the family may be recognised in its fundamental vocation as cradle of life and school of faith and right values
The family as a domestic Church and cradle of life is the appropriate setting in which faith can increase. It is here that faith can be nourished through an attitude of appreciation of the treasure which parents are called on to transmit to their children through personal words and testimonies of life. This attitude must then be nourished with a sense of wonder and hope and it must be contemplated as Mary contemplated it in the face of the Word she received and the events of her life. This deep sense of faith helps parents and their children to fulfil the vocation received from God. Parents, teaching their children and bearing witness to the true sense of suffering and dying, lead the young to be more attentive to all forms of suffering. They, thus develop positive attitudes of assistance and sharing with others, especially with weaker people like the sick and the aged. This life of faith must be continually nourished through individual and family prayer. On the strength of this foundation the family becomes a place for training in justice, self-control, temperance, respect for the personal dignity of each individual and the service of the poor and needy.
- END -