April 23..SEE.  “How many women go to Bible Study sessions and how many men or young people?”   Before they started their session the group considered this question.  “Doesn’t everyone need some sort of guidance to understand scripture or do we just like to read and share a thought or two without really grappling with the context and deeper meaning?“ “We could use a study guide and see what that does?” “But then will it become too much of an intellectual exercise?”  Who is the saint that said, “Balance in all things!”  “Was it St Ignatius or St Thomas Aquinas or maybe even St Augustine or St Francis for that matter, They all had important views on preaching and the Scriptures.” “But how it speaks to our hearts and souls also matters.”  

Reflect and Share. JUDGE. Scripture: Phillip ran up to the eunuch in the chariot and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “do you understand what you are reading?”  “How can I, unless someone guides me.” From Acts 8:26-40.  Pope Francis: The same Spirit who inspired the Gospels and who acts in the Church also inspires the preacher to hear the faith of God’s people and to find the right way to preach at each Eucharist.  Just as all of us like to be spoken to in our mother tongue, so too in the faith we like to be spoken to in our “mother culture” our native language.  EG 139.   Pope Leo: John XXIII was the first pope to advocate integral disarmament which can only be achieved through renewal of the heart and mind. It much reach peoples’ very souls.   It is impossible to stop the arms race or to reduce armaments unless there is cooperation in banishing fear and expectations of war.  PM 1 Jan.   

Act and pray. Discuss the relevance and approach of preachers in our time .  Do some of the charismatic Protestant prophets attract more followers than Catholic priests and why? Pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. Whose death anniversary was on 21 April.