6 Oct
Mon
27th Week in Ordinary Time
Jona. 1:1-2:1-11
(R. Ps.) Jona. 2:3-5,8
Lk. 10:25-37
(Ps Wk III)
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Two significant sentences appear today, a) 'Jonah decided to run away from the Lord' (Jonah 1:2), and b) 'And who is my neighbour?'(Luke 10:29). They are seemingly unrelated, yet both should provoke us to thought-filled action. Jonah's desperation to evade the demands of the Lord leads him to several perilous adventures, the first of which, the storm at sea, is described today. Notice how the pagan sailors from various countries and worshipping various gods had a far greater respect and awe of the Lord, the God of heaven, than Jonah, the one chosen by the Lord to be a prophet. Despite Jonah's recalcitrance, the Lord still had mercy on him and saved him from drowning when he prayed to the Lord from the belly of the fish (Psalm Reading and Jonah 2:3-5). 'And who is my neighbour?' asked the self-righteous lawyer who in his more subtle way is also trying to evade God's demands of him. The parable of the Good Samaritan gave a clear answer to the question posed. Here again it is the unlikely personage who acts in a God-fearing way, as did the sailors in Jonah's story.

The Lord had asked Jonah to be a neighbour to the Ninevites, to warn them of His possible wrath and to save them from themselves. Do we steer clear of being 'good neighbours' when it becomes burdensome?



Lord, help us not to shirk the burden of loving our neighbour. Have mercy on us. 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 young people may follow Christ, the way, the truth, the life with generous enthusiasm and be ready to bear witness to him in all the situations in which they live.
Elaboration

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