4 Oct Wed 26th Week in Ordinary Time St Francis of Assisi Job 9:1-12, 14-16 Ps. 88:10-15 Lk. 9:57-62 How To Pray With Shalom Home Page of Shalom Index of This Month        Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem to lay down His life - the supreme test of His filial obedience to His Father. At this point of His journey three would-be followers meet Him. None of them understand the strigent demands required of followers of Jesus.     Discipleship of Jesus brings a conflict of loyalties. Passionate loyalty to God and His Kingdom demands from the disciple a readiness to sacrifice anything and everything which stands in the way of such loyalty; to make every relationship and duty subordinate to the call of the Kingdom. Single-mindedness is necessary for any important mission in life; all the more so for the work of the kingdom.     Every choice involves sacrifices. The greater the choice, the more the sacrifice that it entails. To follow Jesus is the greatest choice and the sacrifice it demands proclaims the primacy of God. It is not just a question of imitating Him, it is a decision to enter into and experience His way of life, His ministry, His lot. Mere enthusiasm to follow Jesus is not enough. What is crucial is that we make a decision to follow Him with determination and make the sacrifices required. A disciple should be prepared to sacrifice security, familial duty and affection. It is not a question of breaking family relationships but transcending (going beyond) them in view of fidelity to the call of the kingdom.      Lord, create in me a pure and generous heart. 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 young married couples may be sustained by the example and assistance of their parents and other families MORE
- END - P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H     INTENTION : That young married couples may be sustained by the example and assistance of their parents and other families The testimony and help that parents and other families must offer to sustain young married couples finds its place in the ambit of post-matrimonial pastoral care. Parents and other families are the most suited to offer this assistance to young spouses because clearly they have lived personally the values which they must transmit. These parents show faithfulness through living in the best possible way the commitments assumed during their marriage. One could ask, but why is it necessary for young couples to be sustained by the testimony of their parents and other families? The answer is, because today there are many negative attitudes which scandalise and discourage young people. Being new to the condition of matrimonial life they need advice, encouragement, moral support, correction and prayer. They cannot be left alone or abandoned in this phase of their lives. Couples need to take advantage of the wealth of the experience and wisdom of their parents. "The pastoral action of the Church must be progressive, also in the sense that it must accompany the family, following it step by step in the various stages of its formation and development," (Familiaris Consortio n65, 69). - END -