Reading: Genesis
4
Two of Adam and Eve's
sons were Cain and Abel.
Cain was a farmer. Abel was a shepherd.
Cain was jealous of his brother Abel.
God said to Cain: "Get control of yourself."
But Cain let his anger take over, and he killed Abel.
God asked Cain, "Where is Abel?"
Cain answered, "How should I know? I'm not his security guard."
God replied, "I can hear your brother's blood crying out to me from
the ground. That same ground will no longer give you any crops."
Reflection:
On July 8, 2013, Pope
Francis used the above story when he visited the island of Lampedusa
near where some alyslum seekers had died at sea when local fishermen
refused to help them. Francis several times used the words "Where
is your brother"
Prayer: Dear God, please
help me not to get angry with other people
Reading: Psalm 137
By
the rivers of Babylon we sat and cried, remembering Zion.
On the poplars that grew there we hung up our harps.
For
it was there that they asked us, our captors, for songs.
"Sing to us", they said, "one of Zion's songs".
O
how could we sing the song of the Lord on alien soil?
If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand wither.
O
let my tongue cleave to my mouth
if I remember you not, Jerusalem , above all my joys.
Reflection:
Time to listen to this great song again! By
the Rivers of Babylon (YouTube, with
lyrics)
Prayer: Lord, please help people who have been exiled from their homeland
Reading: 1 Corinthians 6
We should respect our bodies as a gift from
the Lord.
Our bodies are not meant for fornication
Avoid sexual activity that avoids commitment
Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who
lives in you.
Let people know that your body is not something to be profaned
Reflection
- Francis
MacNutt:
Deliverance
from Evil Spirits (p.128, 129)
"If a man has had a sexual relationship
with six women before he marries,
he brings six people beside himself into the marriage bed,
and spiritual confusion is brought into that marriage from the
beginning"
Prayer:
Jesus, please help people avoid sex outside
marriage