5 Feb
Tue
4th Week in Ordinary Time
2 Sam. 18:9-10,14b,24-5a,30-19:3
Ps. 85:1-2,3-4,5-6
Mk. 5:21-43
(Ps Wk IV)
How To Pray With Shalom
Home Page of Shalom
Index of This Month
 

The story of David and Absalom is a good commentary on the futility of war, especially of civil war, for civil war not only tears nations apart, it tears families apart, so that father and son fight against each other, brother opposes brother. Rather than solving problems civil war and tribal conflicts only create more problems, problems of mistrust, bitterness, and hatred.

On the other hand the Gospel today paints a story of family love, tested and strengthened by suffering. In his letters when he uses the image of a body for the Church, Paul reminds us that, when one part of a body is ill, the whole body suffers. Similarly in a family, when one member is ill, the whole family suffers along with the sick one. Jairus' daughter is ill in some way and Jairus suffers because of his daughter, he suffers along with his daughter. His suffering is seen in his gesture of falling at Jesus' feet, the trusting plea of a man who has nowhere else to turn to for help. If we all cared for each other with the same intensity, the world would be a better place.



Lord, enlighten us to love each other and to bear one another's burdens, so that our care for each other may help build a more peaceful world.

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 the mentally handicapped may not be marginalized, but respected and lovingly helped to live in a way worthy of their physical and social conditions.
Elaboration

- END -


© Copyright Shalom 2008. All rights reserved.