May 7.  Household Conversion. “How powerful  was the preacher’s and his preaching to make people believe, or was it because of miracles and signs?” They commented in the family as they returned from the parish mission where the preaching had been on the reading of the day. “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household. The jailer washed their wounds and took them to his house and they were baptised.  Read Acts 16:22-34   Young Charlie wasn’t convinced and Maysie was also worried about the household as a whole being converted.  She said, “It might have been like that before but not any more nowadays. Everyone makes up their own mind.”  The oldies wondered whether some of the powerful charismatic preachers of today were nevertheless more likely to lead the youth out of the Catholic church than into a relationship with Jesus.

Mr Anderson said,  “Pope Francis has an important message for youth and for preachers,  ‘Encountering Christ, letting themselves (young people) be caught up in and guided by his love, enlarges the horizons of existence. Faith is no refuge for the fainthearted, but something which enhances our lives. It makes us aware of a magnificent calling, the vocation of love.’” Lumen Dei. ACTION.  Try to promote the preaching in your parish as best you can. Pope Francis keeps challenging his priests to do their best.