22 Jul
Thu
St Mary Magdalene
Sgs. 3:1-4 or 2 Cor. 5:14-17
Ps. 63:1-5, 7-8
Jn. 20:1-2,11-18
(Psalter proper)
How To Pray With Shalom
Home Page of Shalom
Index of This Month
 

St Paul in speaking to the Corinthians warns the community that those who consider themselves "perfect and mature" are nothing of the sort. That they are still unspiritual people, infants in church, is shown by their jealousy and wrangling. They build themselves up by aligning themselves with a certain preacher, and by pitting themselves and their favourite preacher against others. St Paul stresses that he and the others who preached to them, are not masters over them, but "servants" who wait on, and serve others.

He applies the image of "servants" to gardening. Preachers are gardeners, each one having a different share in the work. The basic proclamation, "the planting" was done by himself, the second stage, the further teaching or the "watering" was done by Apollos and others.

But Paul emphasises, the results can only be attributed to God. No one should forget that it is God who makes everything grow, that preachers and teachers are God's co-workers, the community is God's field. All comes from God.



Lord, I acknowledge You and You alone is my Lord and Master. Give me the grace to serve and work for Your greater love and glory.

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 all those who are able to benefit from a holiday period may be helped during their vacation to rediscover in God their inner harmony and to open themselves to the love of human beings.
Elaboration

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