10 Jul
Tue
14th Week in Ordinary Time
Gen. 32:22-32
Ps. 17:1, 2-3, 6-7, 8, 15
Mt. 9:32-38
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The story of Jacob wrestling with God provides us with much food for thought. The actual wrestling reminds us of our own struggles with faith, our struggles to be morally good and just people, even holy people. Some of the other details of the story also prove enlightening. It is on the way to Palestine that Jacob undergoes this strange experience. We too are on the road to the promised land of heaven, and on this road we meet many challenges. In the midst of our struggles, we can rest assured that they come precisely because we are on the way to the Holy Land of Heaven, the land which Jesus won for us by His life and death. Jesus never told us that the road to heaven was an easy one. He told us to struggle to enter through the narrow gate.

The struggle made Jacob ready for a new mission, signified in the change of his name from "Jacob" to "Israel". In baptism, we received a baptismal name, the name of our patron saint. We too are called by baptism to be a patron for others, to introduce others to the way of heaven and to help them walk on this way in faith, hope and love.



Lord, hear our prayer when we call to You in the midst of our struggles.

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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