1 Oct
Fri
St Theresa of the Child Jesus
Patroness of Missions
Is. 66:10-14
Ps. 131:1-3
Mt. 18:1-5
(Psalter proper)
How To Pray With Shalom
Home Page of Shalom
Index of This Month
 

Jesus in chapter 18 of Matthew's Gospel approaches Jerusalem - the cross. He will soon leave the group of Apostles He has been nurturing. Yet, in spite of being with Him all along, they have not been able to grasp the essence of Jesus' ministry which is to establish the Kingdom of God. They are at this juncture still visualizing an earthly kingdom of power, glory, lordship and ministership.

Jesus in His characteristic teaching manner puts before them a living parable. The aim of the parable is to lead them beyond the strict limitations of one's present circumstances and to seek a solution with a faith vision, that is, seeing God at work in the world.

This kingdom is given not to those who are learned but to children - those who have trust, faith, simplicity and dependency on God. St Theresa of the Child Jesus had such an attitude. She was given great insights into God's wonderful love for us, His children. She proved that holiness is for all ordinary Christians. Her secret is the "little way", the way that believes that God loves us in spite of our being so negligent and careless and in spite of our forgetfulness of Him. But He never forgets us.



O Lord, renew in Your people the zeal for spreading the Gospel of Jesus and help Your messengers to cultivate a deep prayer life. Amen.

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, firm in their faith, Christians may be eager to dialogue with those who belong to another religious tradition.
Elaboration

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