31 May
Fri 		Visitation of the BVM
Zep. 3:14-18 or Rom. 12:9-16b
(R.Ps.) Is. 12:2-3,4bcd,5-6
Lk. 1:39-56
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There is very little in this modern world that helps us to understand the faith that imbued Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Media images tend to reinforce our cynicism about life and ability to trust people.

Yet when we read the account of Mary's visit to Elizabeth, we encounter a pregnant woman who put her own circumstances on hold out of concern for the wellbeing of her cousin. She decided to visit her in order to help her because she perceived her to be in greater need.

In speaking with Elizabeth, it becomes obvious that Mary is well aware of the tremendous favour that God has shown her. She has been chosen to bear His Son, truly a great privilege. Mary showed great trust in God and never once doubted that He would care for her. Mary's great love for God shines through in this Gospel, and we see that she was prepared to do all that was asked of her. This faith and love of God is certainly a refreshing change from the cynicism we witness every day in the sophisticated modern world that has lost some of the innocence that appears so central to the life of Mary, the Mother of Jesus.


Lord, let me like Mary, learn the way of serving You above all.

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 Christians may live their faith coherently and so be credible witnesses of the hope of the Gospel
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 Christians may live their faith coherently and so be credible witnesses of the hope of the Gospel

That we may live a "coherent faith" that is a faith which produces the testimony of good works is the ecumenical intention of the Holy Father. In the Joint Declaration on the doctrine of justification signed between the Catholic Church and the World Lutheran Federation in 1999 it is stated that "only through grace, by means of faith in Christ and his salvific work, and not through any merit of ours, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit which renews our hearts, enabling us to perform and leading us to good works".

It has to be understood that no human effort is capable of buying salvation. It is fundamentally a gift of God for which we have a duty to respond and co-operate through "faith-in-action" or "practised faith".

Hence, the strengthening of one's inner faith through prayer and the sacraments will assist in the growth of charity which leads us to live the new commandment of love more fervently. Now is the time to look at charity in a new way. It is not a matter of doing the same thing in the same way. It is a time to seek and find new expressions of love for every human being. Then we become "credible witnesses of evangelical hope"



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