12th October.  Our Father’s Care.    Paul shared, “Pope Francis continually challenges us to help others, care for and share with the poor.  I am inclined to get sceptical about being generous with the beggars at traffic lights, but I suppose one could say that all our marches and protests about land, service delivery and jobs are also what Luke could have been talking about, as God’s generosity.” Others picked it up.  “Sharing bread among friends is already a sacred thing: when we are in need our real friends will make God present for us in this way. Knocking on doors and asking does eventually get results!“ “And so does asking God for what we need, if our faith is strong. Do we often enough ask God to strengthen us through the Holy Spirit for our mission?” “Do we pray enough for peace in so many war-torn parts of the world.?” “But doesn’t God also help those who help themselves?”

Reflect, share, act. Scripture What father among you if his son asks for a fish will give him a serpent?  If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. Luke 11:5-13. Pope Francis. Before all else the gospel invites us to respond to the God of love who saves us, to see God in others and to go forth from ourselves to seek the good of others. If this invitation does not radiate forcefully and attractively the edifice of the Church’s moral teaching risks becoming  a house of cards. That is our greatest risk. EG39.  It is important that catechesis and preaching speak more directly about the social meaning of existences and the fraternal dimensions of spirituality, the inalienable dignity of each person and accepting and loving them as our brothers and sisters.  FT 86.  Pray: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in us the fire of your love, so that walking together we may renew the face of the earth.