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The emphasis in the first reading from 1 John is on love. The author had just written that God is love and then he declared that we love because God first loved us. Furthermore, we are to share that love with others. We are to obey God's commandment to love one another. He echoes the two great commandments of Jesus- that anyone who loves God must also love others. This is the mark of those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. We must always remember that love shows itself in action, and not so much in words!
When Jesus read the passage from Isaiah, He was outlining His own mission. What He read in the synagogue in Nazareth still applies today. Jesus is the unique One who bears the Holy Spirit; He is the Anointed One who brings the Good News, healing and freedom to the oppressed. This mission for Jesus has been passed onto us as followers of Christ - with the help of the Holy Spirit, we are to share the Good News, and to look after those who are sick and oppressed, and to reach out to the poor and marginalised. This is the way we can bring the Gospel to life - through action, and not just with mere words. We are called to love and to serve.
Lord, help me to love and serve others as You do.
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DAILY OFFERING
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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 jul 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.
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PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
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INTENTION
For prayer with the Word of God.
Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.
Elaboration
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