May 11. SEE.    Pauline commented, “You know, I never realised it but St Paul had a pretty bad time on those missionary journeys of his. Sometimes they loved him and wanted to make him king. Next thing they hate him and want to stone him or beat him. I think that being a parent over the years can also be rather like that.  Don’t we all agree?  But the special moments, right from babyhood into adulthood, make it all worthwhile. Who would like to share on that?”  

JUDGE. Reflect, share, act. Scripture.   We sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to listen and she was baptised, with her household.  Acts 16:13-15.   Pope Francis:  “Allow me to share a family memory.  My mother said, “I have five children, like five fingers.   Should they strike this one it hurts me, should they strike that one it hurts me.  All five hurt me.  All are my children and different like the fingers of a hand.”   General audience February 2015. Pope Leo: A collective approach grounded in the Gospel can transform local institutions and structures into “instruments for the common good,” rather than “places of conflict, self-interest, or sterile struggles.”

ACT AND PRAY. Mary, patient mother of the family, pray for us.