October 26. SEE. The Sabbath. Be honest,” the group leader said, “What does the Sabbath day mean to us nowadays?”  “I sleep late.” “I enjoy going to my sodality meeting.”   “I love the atmosphere in church even if it takes long.” “I feel guilty if I don’t go to Mass.” “We still go to church together and then go out for breakfast afterwards. It is one of the joys of my week.” “I have to work, no choice.” “Is there really a choice about what we could do on Sundays?  Do we talk about it as a family, or use it as a time to get away from one another?”  Jesus’ healing the woman on the Sabbath was much more than an act of kindness to an animal which was tied up, in pain, hungry, thirsty, but an act of love and recognition of a relationship.    

JUDGE. Reflect, share, Scripture. At that time Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.  And there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity. Jesus laid his hands upon her and immediately she was made clean. The ruler of the synagogue was indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath. Jesus answered, “you hypocrite.”   Luke 13:10-17. Pope Francis: The family’s communal journey of prayer culminates by sharing together in the Eucharist, especially in the context of the Sunday rest. Jesus knocks on the door to share with the Eucharistic supper. Spouses can seal anew the paschal covenant which united them and reflects the covenant which God sealed with mankind on the cross.  AL 318.  Pope Leo:   234. The spirituality that we need is a Eucharistic spirituality, that is, a spirituality of ecclesial unity in love. The Incarnation and the Paschal Mystery reveal God entering into our human condition and transforming it through the gift of himself. This gift remains present and active in the Eucharist, in which the Lord gives himself and gathers the Church together, so that his offering becomes the principle of unity and source of new life. It is from this communion that Christian solidarity also arises, since “union with Christ is also union with all those to whom he gives himself.”  As Saint Augustine explained to the new Christians of his local Church, the bread and wine on the altar are the sacrament of the unity of the faithful in Christ: “What is seen is a mere physical likeness; what is grasped bears spiritual fruit.  MH234

Daily Prayer for Mission Month October, Year of St Francis and upcoming Local Elections in SA.  

Heavenly Father, during this Mission month, we praise and thank you for the gift of your love and the riches of your creation. As missionary disciples we answer your call to walk in the way of peace.  We lift up to you all leaders of nations. Grant them an open heart and a listening ear to hear the cries of the poor and the needy. Bless all missionaries, protect them from harm, strengthen their hearts in times of trial, and fill them with the joy of your Spirit. As we prepare for the elections and a renewal of society for the common good we acknowledge our shortcomings and faults. We hear the needs that call for help to build a united country under God, as a family of all the families of creation.  Mary, Mother of the Church and of the Rosary pray for us. St Francis, our model and patron saint of all of creation pray for us. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen