19 Apr
Fri
3rd Week of Easter
Acts 9:1-20
Ps. 117:1,2
Jn. 6:52-59
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Flesh and blood - is a Hebrew idiom used to refer to the whole person; so that in a sense, we can speak of the sacramental communion as the personal communion or encounter with Jesus who shares His life and the life of His Father with us. Through the Eucharist, we solemnly participate in His Incarnation, His Passion, death and resurrection, and in His mission. Today's Gospel reminds us that our faith is also physical - we are not speaking of a mere supernatural presence limited to the consecrated host and wine. No, we are speaking of real presence - Christ is fully present to us in His Body and His Blood. There is a tendency to focus our entire attention on the consecrated host and wine and then fail to recognise its real impact on us. It's amazing how many good Catholics can believe that a piece of wafer is the real body of Christ and yet find such great difficulty to see Christ in another person, a person of 'flesh and blood'. Thus, to take the life of another person, whether he is a criminal, a terrorist, an enemy or even an unborn child, or merely be indifferent to these acts of war, violence, murder, revenge, abuse, and abortion - could be sacrilege. So, our devotion to Christ's Body and Blood, no matter how pious and commendable, will be of no merit whatsoever, if we do not have that same reverence for human life. Our mission of justice and service is a mission of the Eucharist.



Dear Jesus, through the sacrifice of Your own Body and Blood, You have shown us the preciousness of all human life.

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 in the many rapid changes taking place in today's world, the importance of the family may be recognised in its fundamental vocation as cradle of life and school of faith and right values
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 in the many rapid changes taking place in today's world, the importance of the family may be recognised in its fundamental vocation as cradle of life and school of faith and right values

The family as a domestic Church and cradle of life is the appropriate setting in which faith can increase. It is here that faith can be nourished through an attitude of appreciation of the treasure which parents are called on to transmit to their children through personal words and testimonies of life. This attitude must then be nourished with a sense of wonder and hope and it must be contemplated as Mary contemplated it in the face of the Word she received and the events of her life.

This deep sense of faith helps parents and their children to fulfil the vocation received from God. Parents, teaching their children and bearing witness to the true sense of suffering and dying, lead the young to be more attentive to all forms of suffering. They, thus develop positive attitudes of assistance and sharing with others, especially with weaker people like the sick and the aged. This life of faith must be continually nourished through individual and family prayer.

On the strength of this foundation the family becomes a place for training in justice, self-control, temperance, respect for the personal dignity of each individual and the service of the poor and needy.




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