Shalom

8 Jul Mon	14th Week in Ordinary Time
	Hos. 2:16,17b-18,21-22 Ps. 145:2-3,4-5, 6-7,8-9 Mt. 9:18-26

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Both our readings today involve women as central characters. Hosea, whose wife was unfaithful, comes to a new appreciation of God's love for Israel, a love which is shown in abounding forgiveness and steadfast fidelity.

Such convenantal love is shown by Jesus to the two women in today's Gospel. Like Hosea, Jesus shows a compassion and acceptance that was more than expected. Leviticus warns of ritual uncleanliness if a man is touched by a woman with a flow of blood, or if he touches the dead (Lev. 15:19-33;21:1). But not with Jesus. He does not suffer uncleanliness, instead his compassionate love heals the woman. He heals the woman and sets her free of her infirmity. Jesus' primary concern however, is to support those in need. The two prophets, Hosea and Jesus, illustrate the psalmist's description of God. Hosea is abounding in love for his unfaithful wife, Jesus is full of compassion for the child and the woman.

Compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in love, open our hearts to receive You more truly, more deeply, each day.

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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