Shalom

12 May Sat	4th Week of Easter Ss Nereus & Achilleus, martyrs
	Acts 13:44-52 Ps. 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 Jn. 14:7-14

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Jesus spoke to His disciples frequently about His "Father". Philip now asks to see this "Father" who is being constantly mentioned. Jesus makes it clear: to have seen Jesus is to have seen the Father for "I am in the Father and the Father is in me". Here we have the deep mystery of the Incarnation. To be in contact with the man Jesus is to be in direct contact with God Himself. When Jesus speaks a man speaks but God also speaks. When Jesus heals, it is a man but it is also God who heals. Through the man Jesus, a person we can see, hear and touch, we are in the presence of our very God. And yet ...the humanity of Jesus still conceals the full glory of God which we will not experience in this life. Jesus is the Way to full union with the Father, the goal of all our living. But there is more. As we see God in the man Jesus, so people are to see Jesus in His followers. "Whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself." Amazingly, we will do "even greater works" than Jesus because, by our very numbers and mobility and variety of gifts, we are able to reach to corners of the world never touched by Jesus. To follow Jesus is not merely to be a good person, much more importantly it is to continue His work. How can I do that in the particular circumstances of my daily life?

Loving Jesus, fill us with Your Spirit and help us constantly to bear witness to our faith in You by the life we live.

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 refugee women, supported and respected, may find the strength to overcome the violence and suffering they are subjected to
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 refugee women, supported and respected, may find the strength to overcome the violence and suffering they are subjected to
The responsibility for many political decisions leading to war rests predominantly with men. Consequently, while men get wounded or die, women and children become refugees exposed to assault, rape or loss of children. The ones who suffer most in these conflicts are the weakest who get uprooted and are forced to flee. This is not the way humanity is supposed to live. Like all refugees women and girls face problems of various kinds and need the following: protection against forced return to their countries of origin; security against armed attacks and other forms of violence; protection from unjustified and unduly prolonged detention; a legal status that accords them adequate social, economic and legal rights; and access to basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing and medical care. They also need protection against human rights abuses and the myriad problems they have to encounter to safeguard their dignity and personhood. We are asked to be in solidarity with them and pray that refugee women may find the strength to overcome the violence and suffering they are subjected to.
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