27Aug
Mon
21st Week in Ordinary Time
St Monica
1 Thess. 1:1-5, 8b-10
Ps. 149:1-6, 9
Mt. 23:13-22
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Jesus has hard words for the Pharisees today but let us see His criticism not so much directed at a whole group of people (some of whom were genuinely good people) but at a way of thinking and behaving. And let us be clear: we can find such people in our own Church today and perhaps we have been guilty of this kind of thing ourselves when we have passed judgement on others or have been an obstacle to people coming closer to God. Daily we see the abuse of authority and power, whether in the Church, in government, in business - leading to all kinds of greed and corruption which undermines the very fabric of our society. But we can also see it in our own homes as parents and in our schools as teachers. We can avoid all this by changing our attitude from one of control to one of service and a genuine concern for the good of others.



Lord Jesus, who washed the feet of Your disciples as a lesson in love and service, teach us too how to have the same spirit especailly in our dealings with the young and weak.

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
The awareness that only God is the master of human life may orientate the decisions of the legislators and leaders of nations
Elaboration

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P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H    

INTENTION : The awareness that only God is the master of human life may orientate the decisions of the legislators and leaders of nations

Evidence shows with increasing clarity how policies and laws opposed to life are causing societies to decline morally, demographically and economically. The encyclical Evangelium Vitae makes the urgent appeal "that we offer this world of ours new signs of hope, and work to ensure that justice and solidarity will increase and that a new culture of human life will be affirmed, for the building of an authentic civilisation of truth and love".

Thus there is no reason for a defeatist mentality which claims that laws opposed to the right of life are inevitable. On the contrary, they are a seed of corruption for society and its foundations. The civil and moral conscience cannot accept this false inevitability. The relationship between the civil and moral law deserves great attention because of the growing importance they are destined to have in the restoration of social life.

Lawmakers are asked to renew their commitment to change unjust laws that legitimise or tolerate such violence. The changing of laws must be preceded and accompanied by the changing of mentalities and morals on a vast scale. The Church cannot spare any effort nor can she accept negligence or guilty silence.




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