25 Jun
Wed
12th Week in Ordinary Time
2 Kgs. 22:8-13, 23:1-3
Ps. 119:33,34,35, 36,37,40
Mt. 7:15-20
(Ps Wk IV)
How To Pray With Shalom
Home Page of Shalom
Index of This Month
 

"All the people stood as participants in the Covenant". Every great religion recognizes that faith is not expressed only in the mind and heart. At least on certain occasions, faith must be expressed in bodily gestures, signifying our reverence for God.

It has always been our Catholic practice to stand for the reading of the Gospel. When I was in the Primary School, Sister explained to us children that standing signified our readiness and eagerness to go off to bear witness to the Gospel.

Up until Vatican II, it was our Catholic practice to kneel to receive the Eucharist, whereas nowadays we stand to receive it. Kneeling is a very reverential act, and helps us to realize the greatness of the gift we receive. Can we draw some insight from the fact that we now stand to receive the Eucharist? One of the most important teachings of Vatican II is that the Church is always on mission: At the end of Mass we stand to receive the blessing and are then sent out to bear witness to the truth of the Gospel and the love we experience in the Eucharist.



Father in heaven, grant us a spirit of reverence and of missionary responsibility as we stand in Your presence to listen to Your Word and receive the Sacrament of the new and eternal covenant.

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 Christians may cultivate a deep and personal friendship with Christ, in order to be able to communicate the strength of his love to every person they meet.
Elaboration

- END -


© Copyright Shalom 2008. All rights reserved.