13 Jun
Mon
11th Week in Ordinary Time
St Anthony of Padua, priest & doctor
2 Cor. 6:1-10
Ps. 98:1-4
Mt. 5:38-42
(Ps Wk III)
How To Pray With Shalom
Home Page of Shalom
Index of This Month
 

"Now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!" These words of Paul rank among his most quotable sayings, and are marked by a power of affirmation that clearly sees the meaning of the Old Testament accomplished in the mystery of Christ.

This "day of salvation" can be explained as the time between Jesus' life on earth and his coming in judgement at the end of the world. This period has already lasted for two thousand years. Whether it will continue for a long or short time, we cannot know, but we do know that it is a time given to us to complete our pilgrimage on earth and to respond to God's graces, so that we will be ready for death whenever it overtakes us.

We may also pay attention to the affirmation that the acceptable time and day of salvation are both "now". We can understand that Paul, like Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth (Lk. 4), is calling upon us to live in the present moment, not to be always looking at the past nor over-concerned by some distant future that is not in our hands.



Father in heaven, grant us the grace to be attentive to Your presence in our lives. Grant us the grace today to respond to Your loving invitations and enjoy the graces of salvation.

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 our society should, with concrete acts of Christian and brotherly love, come to the aid of the millions of refugees who live in extreme need and abandonment.
Elaboration

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