16 May
Wed 		5th Week of Easter
Acts 15:1-6
Ps. 122:1-2, 3-4a, 4b-5;
Jn. 15:1-8
How To Pray With Shalom
Home Page of Shalom
Index of This Month
 

In today's Gospel, Jesus reveals to us the tremendous mystery of His Divine indwelling. In the allegory of the vine and branches, Jesus teaches the sublime truth of His Presence within us in His risen, exalted and glorified life. He loves us so much He could not leave us. He wanted and still wants to remain with us and share in all our undertakings. Jesus' indwelling is not static, it is a dynamic operative presence without which we can do nothing. Did He not say "Apart from me you can do nothing"?

The goodness of our loving Falther is also evident in the fact that it is the branch which blossoms out and bears fruit. And Jesus tells us that we are that branch. Like branches we are dependent on the vine (Jesus) for life and nourishment. Jesus is always with us, strengthening, nourishing, supporting and loving us. Yes, only with His Divine life surging through us do we become fruitful branches. And we do bring glory to God by the fruit that we and Jesus produce. This is indeed the foretaste of our total union with Him in heaven. Let us then thank God for strengthening, nourishing, supporting and loving us in our daily lives.


Thank You Lord for dwelling in us. Help us to bear fruit that will honour and glorify You. Amen.

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

- END -








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.



- END -