7 Jan
Tue
Wednesday after Epiphany
St Raymond of Penyafort, priest
1 Jn. 4:11-18
Ps. 71:2,10-11,12-13
Mk. 6:45-52
(Ps Wk II)
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"The Father has sent the Son as saviour of the world." These words of St John, like many other similar sentences in the New Testament, neatly sum up the mystery of our faith. We affirm that the initiative lies with God, the Blessed Trinity and not with the Son himself. This doctrine is repeated often in John's Gospel, when Jesus affirms in different ways that He has not come to do His own will, and constantly speaks of God as the Father who sent Him. Then, too, we must acknowledge that Jesus is Son of God, otherwise we make the Gospels nothing more than a kind of philosophy. Furthermore, as we proclaim in the Creed, God sent his son "for us and for our salvation." Jesus is the only Saviour of the world, even though many other great religious leaders and thinkers have done much to make the world a better place. The world, however, needs more than "betterment": it needs salvation. If we reflect on the mystery of human existence, we will be driven to seek an answer far beyond ourselves yet an answer that is engraved on our hearts and in the depths of our spirit, namely the desire for God.



Father in heaven, strengthen our faith so that in union with Your Son we may lead better lives in this 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 family may become more and more a place of training in charity, personal growth and transmission of the faith.
Elaboration

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