Thought for the week.

The theme Pope Francis has chosen for this year’s World Day of Prayer for the Sick is:

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Taken from Matt. 11:28. The Pope’s message can be
accessed on: www.catholicbishops.ie

We pray through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes that the healing hand of Jesus will touch all who are sick.
We remember in particular the people in our Parish who are visited as part of the Visitation of the Sick & Housebound, ourselves, family members, and friends who may suffer from any form of sickness, those in our Care Homes, those in Hospital, those awaiting surgery or test results, and those who are worried about their health.

We pray too in thanksgiving for the gift of all who care for the sick in any capacity.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. St. Bernadette, pray for us.

St. Matthew’s Gospel 5:13:16 The Sermon on the Mount
Today’s Gospel and those we will hear for the next number of Sunday’s all form part of what is known as Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. In short, the Sermon on the Mount is the various teachings of Jesus on discipleship. A life of discipleship is not just something that Jesus taught; it was something that He lived. As Baptised Catholics, we are
called to a life of discipleship. We pray today that, guided by the Holy Spirit in our lives, we will be authentic disciples, luminous in our witness, and shining in our example.