13 Feb
Fri
5th Week in Ordinary Time
1 Kgs. 11:29-32
12:19
Ps. 81:9-14
Mk. 7:31-37
(Ps Wk I)
How To Pray With Shalom
Home Page of Shalom
Index of This Month
 

Jesus came to make us whole, in body, mind and spirit. In today's Gospel, a deaf and dumb man is healed and proceeds to use his new-found gift of speech to proclaim the wonders and goodness of God.

In contrast, the spiritual deafness of Soloman led to the division of the land of Israel symbolized by the tearing and distribution of Ahijah's new cloak.

The Lord wants us to have ears that really hear His word and minds that act accordingly always. What of our present day society? Is it not true that there is a tendency to hear only the promptings of our own self-interest rather than that of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us? And as a consequence are we not blocking out the cries and woes of our suffering brothers and sisters around us?

The Lord wants to heal us of our spiritual deafness so that we can really hear His Word as He speaks through the Scriptures, the events in our lives, our experiences, our encounters with others, the signs of the times . . . hearing His Word and acting on it, we will then, like the healed man in the Gospel, be able to proclaim God's goodness and love to others.



Lord, heal me of my spiritual deafness that prevents me from listening and acting on Your Word.

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
For peaceful co-existence among Christians, Jews and Muslims in the Holy Land.
Elaboration

- END -