30 Jul
Wed
17th Week in Ordinary Time
St Peter Chrysologus, bishop & doctor
Jer. 15:10,16-21
Ps. 59:2-3,4-5,10-11, 17,18
Mt. 13:44-46
(Ps Wk I)
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"When I found your words, I devoured them: they became my joy and the happiness of my heart". Jeremiah may seem a little confused. He laments his birth because his mission has attracted such opposition and yet the foundation of his mission, God's word, is his "joy and the happiness of his heart". There is no contradiction, but there is a challenge to understand and to imitate. There is a challenge to understand how powerfully God's word brings joy and happiness and the courage and strength to face all kinds of suffering. Jeremiah uses the word "devour". Like a ravenously hungry man faced with food, he devoured the word of God. When food is "devoured" and then digested, it becomes our nourishment and the source of our strength and wellbeing.

So, then, Jeremiah's words challenge us to accept the word of God the way we accept food. We may say the image of "devouring" represents what we would in modern terms call "assimilation" or "appropriation": we are invited to make the word of God truly our own and to derive nourishment and strength from it



Lord, grant us a great taste for your word so that, each time we come to Mass, we may eagerly receive it along with the Eucharist, as truly spiritual food.

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 there may be an increase in the number of those who, as volunteers, offer their services to the Christian community with generous and prompt availability.
Elaboration

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