2 Jul
Tue
13th Week in Ordinary Time
Am. 3:1-8,4:11-12
Ps. 5:5-8
Mt. 8:23-27
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We must learn to trust in God's power to deliver us from evil. Amos warns that God will act if the people of Israel do not follow His teachings. The psalm shows how God dislikes evil and no sinner is a guest in His house. Therefore we should always endeavour to do what is right and act justly in this life. God loves us and always gives us choices. Moreover, in the Lord's prayer we ask not to be led into temptation but to be delivered from evil. It is in God's power to deliver us from evil but we must always turn to Him and ask Him to guide us on our way. Matthew's gospel indicates that we should trust in Jesus (God) for deliverance from both natural and manmade disasters. We should remember that nothing is impossible for God. God is able to overcome all evil as long as we have faith, hope and trust in Him. In Matthew's story the disciples were terrified of drowning during the storm. Jesus asked them, 'Why are you so frightened, you men of little faith?' It was easily in His power to overcome this disaster and He will do the same for us if we only trust Him wholeheartedly.



Lord, deliver us from evil, always.

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 artists may do all they can to help the men and women of today to discover the signs of God's providential love in creation.
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 artists may do all they can to help the men and women of today to discover the signs of God's providential love in creation.

The artist who can sculpt the stones of our heart to bring out the features of Christ is the Holy Spirit. However, he requires our responsiveness and docility. Conversion of heart is a work of an art jointly produced by the Spirit and our freedom.

Artists, accustomed to shaping the most diverse materials according to the inspiration of their genius, know well the daily effort required to improve their life that resembles artistic work. Through his artistic creativity the artist accomplishes the task of shaping the "material" of his own humanity and then having dominion over the universe. There is a remarkable similarity between the art of forming oneself and that which takes place in the transformation of matter.

God lets himself be glimpsed through the fascination of beauty. Artists can perceive a ray of supreme beauty among the many manifestations of the beautiful. It is then that art becomes a way to God and it spurs the artists to combine their creative talent with their commitment to a life of ever greater conformity to the divine law. Living profoundly their Christian faith, artists are encouraged to give birth to new "epiphanies" of the divine beauty reflected in creation.




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