26Jul
Thu
Ss Joachim & Anne, parents of the BVM
Ex. 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20b
(R.Ps.) Dan. 3:52-56
Mt. 13:10-17
How To Pray With Shalom
Home Page of Shalom
Index of This Month
 

Asked by His disciples why He spoke to people in parables, Jesus quoted a prophecy of Isaiah about people listening but not understanding, looking without really seeing. What did He mean? Surely He wanted people to listen to Him and understand: wasn't His story-telling aimed at catching attention and getting people to look for deeper meanings below the surface? A certain familiarity with Jesus' parables (as well as with the story of His life and death and rising) can perhaps allow us to think that we have really heard and seen and understood. But the word is a living word, so there is always more to learn, new insights to be discovered, appreciated and understood. Not simply by study and reading, but by being in the company of Jesus, in touch with Him in prayer, walking with Him, trusting Him, like His disciples were doing. Wasn't that why He said their eyes and their ears were blessed, because they saw and heard? When Jesus said that many prophets and righteous people had longed to see and hear what they saw and heard, He wasn't talking only about a difference of time. But was He, maybe, also referring to His own grandparents (known in popular piety as Joachim and Anne), who may not have lived to see His public ministry? Today's their festival day.



Open our eyes and ears O Lord to see beyond the surface of our lives and stories, and so meet and recognise You in everything You are doing and speaking to us in our lives and our world.

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

- END -









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.




- END -