4 Jul
Wed 		13th Week in Ordinary Time
St Elizabeth of Portugal
Gen. 21:5, 8-20
Ps. 34:6-7, 9-12
Mt. 8:28-34
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Jesus' power frightened the people. Evil devils pleading to be sent into pigs - what does this mean! And the picture of pigs possessed by demons and falling over the cliff into the lake - what does it mean? It means that Jesus has power over evil, and that the love and justice of God triumph in Jesus over all hatred and evil. The human heart is the battle-place of good and evil: our thoughts can be of peace and of bitterness at the same time, our word can build up and knock down in the same conversation, our deeds can be loving and selfish in the one relationship. We are a mixture of good and evil. May Jesus who cast out evil from His people, replace the evil in our hearts with more and more of the love of God.


Lord, increase in me the desire to live more and more in the peace, compassion and love of God.

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 the Gospel, may be read and lived in Christian families by parents and children, so that they may bear witness to the hope of Christ
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 : That the Gospel, may be read and lived in Christian families by parents and children, so that they may bear witness to the hope of Christ

Abraham and Mary received a wonderful promise from God. For both Abraham and Mary, the divine promise came as something completely unexpected. God disrupted the daily course of their lives, overturning its settled rhythms and conventional expectations. The promise seemed impossible. We must learn to walk in darkness.

Modelling ourselves on Mary, we ask her to help us look at and to listen to, to ponder and to penetrate the deep and mysterious meaning of the very simple, very humble and very beautiful appearing of the Son of God. We pray for a great renewal of faith in all the children of the Church everywhere to preach the good news to the poor. We ask her to teach us the way of humble and joyful obedience to the Gospel in the service of our brothers and sisters, without preferences and without prejudices. A deep renewal that is not just reflected in a general attitude to life, but as a conscious and courageous profession of the Creed. We ask the Holy Family to inspire all Christians to defend the family against so many present-day threats to its nature, its stability and its mission. We pray the efforts of Christians and of all people of good will to defend life and to promote respect for the dignity of every human being.



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