2 May
Fri
6th Week of Easter
St Athanasius, bishop and doctor
Acts. 18:9-18
Ps. 46:2-3,4-5,6-7
Jn. 16:20-23a
(Ps Wk II)
How To Pray With Shalom
Home Page of Shalom
Index of This Month
 

Today we celebrate the feast of St Athanasius who lived in the 4th century AD. He is most famous for his defence of the divinity of Jesus against the Arian heresy which claimed that Jesus was only a man. The First Reading reminds us of the basic simplicity of our faith - to believe that Jesus is the Christ and that he is truly the Son of God and to keep his commandments. These commandments are simple. In fact, there is really only one - to love our brothers and sisters (and that includes every single person) as Jesus has loved us for "wherever there is love, God is there too." At the same time, the Gospel reminds us that being a loving and caring people does not guarantee we will be loved in return. It was not true of Jesus, it was not true of his disciples, it was not true of Athanasius so we should not be surprised if we also experience hostility as a loving people. But, if we continue to love in such circumstances, we know that our love is genuine and that God is with us.



Love one another as I have loved you.

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 Christians may use literature, art and the mass-media to greater advantage in order to favour a culture which defends and promotes the values of the human person.
Elaboration

- END -


© Copyright Shalom 2008. All rights reserved.