14 Dec
Fri
2nd Week of Advent
St John of the Cross, priest & doctor
Is. 48:17-19
Ps. 1:1-2,3,4,6
Mt. 11:16-19
(Ps Wk II)
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"I, the lord your God, teach you what is for your good". The Letter to the Hebrews [1:1-2] reminds us that God spoke in many different ways in the past, especially through the prophets but, since the first Christmas, God speaks to us through his Son.

When he sent out the seventy-two disciples, Jesus gave them the authority to speak on his behalf: "Anyone who listens to you, listens to me" (Lk 10:16). He repeated this in different words at the Last Supper: "If they kept my words, they will keep yours as well" (Jn 15:20). Jesus ascended into heaven and, in union with the Father, sent the Holy Spirit upon his apostles to give them the courage and authority to bring the Gospel to the world. Hence, we must believe that, through the Church, the Lord our God teaches us what is for our good. Though many people, including even many Catholics, refuse to face the bitter truth, many have for some time realized that Paul VI's encyclical Humanae Vitae was prophetic in that it saw that carelessness about birth control and sexuality in general would bring about a state of affairs where the lack of respect for life would have dire consequence for the human race.



Lord, enlighten all human hearts to realize that what you teach us is for our good and our eternal happiness.

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 human society may be solicitous in the care of all those stricken with AIDS, especially children and women, and that the Church may make them feel the Lord's love.
Elaboration

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