20 Oct
Fri
28th Week in Ordinary Time
Eph. 1:11-14
Ps. 33:1-2,4-5,12-13
Lk. 12:1-7
(Ps Wk IV)
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Four great graces marked Israel's relationship with God: God chose Israel, made a covenant with them, gave them a law, and promised them a Messiah. These four great grace - Election, Covenant, Law, Promise - were renewed in the mystery of the Incarnation. Under these four concepts, we can also gather together much of our doctrine about Jesus. Choice: it was Jesus who chose us, not we who chose Him. The notion of choice appears strongly in many other passages of the New Testament, such as the first chapter of Ephesians. God has confirmed that choice through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. When He ascended to the Father's side, Jesus in union with the Father sent the Holy Spirit. With the Letter to the Ephesians we meditate today on the significance of this gift of the Spirit. We are "sealed" with the Spirit. According to our ordinary Church teaching, this "sealing" takes place in Baptism and Confirmation. We may say that every gift we receive from God is also a promise of even greater gifts. Hence, the Holy Spirit is "the pledge of our inhertance" and so we live with a strong sense of hope, which animates our faith and love.



Father in Heaven, we thank You and praise You. Before the foundation of the world, You chose us in Christ.

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 all those who are baptized may mature in their faith and manifest it through clear, coherent and courageous choices in life.
Elaboration

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