Tag: Prayer

Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm.

In today’s Gospel, Matthew tells the story of Jesus and the disciples who follow him. He gets in a boat. Shortly afterward, a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee overtakes them. Although waves are sinking the boat, Jesus is asleep in the back of it. The disciples wake him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” Jesus responds by rebuking them for their lack of faith and then stands up and rebukes the winds and the sea. Suddenly, there was a great calm. With amazement, the disciples say, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?” Matthew depicts Jesus’ divine power over nature and the importance of having faith in him even in the most difficult situations.

God, help me understand the role of faith in my relationship with you. It’s easy to see that the storm in the Gospel could be any disquieting situation in life. During it, you are present and in control of the circumstances. Just as you led Lot to safety from great destruction, help me trust that you will guide me safely to freedom, away from any threat to my faith in you. From the responsorial psalm, “Search me, O LORD, and try me; test my soul and my heart.”

The Gospel acclamation says, “I trust in the LORD; my soul trusts in his word.” Lord, help me trust that you can rebuke any storm that the day throws at me. Grant me your peace. May the Holy Spirit, the bond of love between the Father and the Son, be the bond of love among this nation and among all peoples.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

In today’s Gospel reading for the feast of Saint Thomas, Jesus appears to the Twelve after having appeared to the others at a separate time. Because he was absent, Thomas doubted the first appearance, saying, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later, Jesus appears again to the disciples, this time with Thomas present. Although the doors were locked, Jesus stands in their midst and wishes them peace. Jesus sees in Thomas disbelief in his presence even as he stands before him. Blessed are those, Jesus says, who come to believe without seeing.

God, help me see and believe in the reality of your Son’s resurrection. Let my faith in you not rest in evidence but in the testimony and witness of others as both have been handed down throughout the ages in your Church. Just as Thomas comes to recognize Jesus’ divine identity, I want his profession “My Lord and my God!” to be mine as well. Give me the grace today to respond to you in firmness of faith, not by any evidence I have in hand, but through the sacraments and teachings of the Church that have been passed to me from generation to generation.

Thank you, Lord, for your presence and for the peace that only Christ can give. Through him, as Saint Paul says, I am a fellow citizen with the holy ones and members of the household of God. Saint Thomas, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his apostles: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

With these challenging words, Jesus invites not only the apostles but anybody who hears him to take up his cross and follow after him. It’s hard to imagine a love greater than that of love for parents or children. Yet, in speaking to the apostles, that is the standard he calls us to strive for. The demand of discipleship to set aside the quest of self-fulfillment has a paradoxical result. In Jesus’ own words, what is that result? “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Whoever finds himself worthy of the Lord is the one who loves him more than father or mother or son or daughter. In that worthy state of grace, love of father and mother and son and daughter becomes ever greater.

God, help me remember this way of life that Jesus calls me to and that you, the author of life, give me your Son as the way, the truth, and the life. Calling this to mind, give me the courage to find my life by losing it for your sake. Jesus says, “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” Give me the grace to recognize that I am an instrument of your love for your people, your “little ones.” In showing them mercy and kindness, I do your will by giving them a cup of cold water to drink.

Lord, be with me today as I put self-interest aside. Stay with me as I receive others, knowing that I love them all the more as I strive to be worthy of you.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

When it was evening, they brought [Jesus] many who were possessed by demons, and he drove out the spirits by a word and cured all the sick, to fulfill what had been said by Isaiah the prophet: He took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus enters Capernaum and encounters the centurion whose servant was at his home, paralyzed and suffering. Amazed at the centurion’s faith and without going to see the servant, Jesus heals him with the words “You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.” As Jesus enters Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law lies in bed with a fever. As Jesus touches her hand, Matthew tells us, the fever left her. In both of these miraculous healings, Jesus merely says a word or touches to restore the servant and Peter’s mother-in-law. Matthew says that “by a word” Jesus drove out demons and healed the sick. With complete faith in the Lord and with only a word from him, what is there he cannot accomplish?

Lord, help me recognize your power to heal, your willingness to extend your healing to all, and the importance of faith in receiving your healing. Just as in yesterday’s reading as Jesus says to the leper “I do will it,” today he shows his compassion, authority, and his mission to bring salvation to all and to restore them to him. God, with the same faith as the centurion, give me the grace to say, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.”

From the Gospel acclamation: “Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Friday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I will do it. Be made clean.” His leprosy was cleansed immediately.

The leper who approached Jesus suffered greatly from his disease. In Jesus’ time, leprosy was commonly understood to be a punishment for sin. Therefore, in curing the man immediately from his leprosy, Matthew shows us that Jesus had authority to heal both body and soul. By coming to Jesus, the leper is a great example of his trust in Jesus’ ability to heal him and that faith is essential in our relationship with God and his ability to heal us through his grace.

God, help me understand that the relationship the leper had with Jesus, coming to him in faith and trust, is exactly where I need to be with you. Through the recurrence of sin, I can delude myself in believing that what I have done is beyond your forgiveness. In saying, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean,” the leper comes to Jesus in childlike faith. Jesus’ reply to him shows that what you will is for all to be restored in wholeness to you. In a state of grace, the leper hears Jesus command him to show himself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses. In the same way after receiving absolution in Confession, I go with joy in a state of grace to offer myself to Jesus as I receive him in the Eucharist.

Thank you, Lord, for your gift of healing physical and spiritual illnesses through your grace, through the sacraments. When I have sinned, let to come to you in faith to receive your divine mercy.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to Peter: “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

In today’s Gospel, Matthew describes the moment when Jesus chooses Peter as the first pope of the Catholic Church. From the second reading, Paul himself speaks of his apostleship in proclaiming the Gospel: “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it.” Both of these great apostles cooperated with God’s grace to strengthen them, and both were martyred. Just as Mary said yes to the Lord during the annunciation, Peter and Paul said yes in different ways, which shaped the Church that remains today and which the gates of the netherworld will never prevail against.

God, these giants of the early Church martyred long ago for love of you now pray for your Church before you in heaven. Rather than see them as unapproachable because of their greatness, I ask for them to intercede for me for your grace to compete well in this life and finish the race alive in faith that will bring me to eternal life. Rescue me, Lord, from the threats of this life—great and small. Under your care and longing for you always, may the prayers of Saints Peter and Paul one day bring me to you safe in your heavenly kingdom.

From the responsorial psalm: “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Taste and see how good the LORD is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him.” Saints Peter and Paul, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them.”

Jesus warns the disciples to remain close to what is true in avoiding false prophets. To remain in the truth is to remain in Jesus Christ, who is truth itself. How do you recognize the false prophets—the ones in Jesus’ time and the ones of today? Jesus says you will know them not by appearances or by persona but by their fruits. “Just so, every good tree bears good fruit,” Jesus tells us, “and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.” The false prophets of Jesus’ day are not too different from the false prophets of today. Just as Jesus invites the disciples to know and remain in the truth, he also invites us each day to remain in him.

God, here I am at the start of a new day. I sit quietly in your presence, undisturbed by the many wavering voices that will compete for my attention throughout the day. Help me avoid the bad and choose the good; even better, give me the grace to remain in you through singleminded attention to your will in each moment of the day.

Thank you, God, for all your gifts. Let me remember to rest in you today as I strive to make the most of your gift of time with the work I have to do and the people I encounter. Help me remain in you as you remain in me so that I bear good fruit.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”

Jesus continues to teach the disciples about the conditions of discipleship in this earthly life that lead to eternal life in heaven. In teaching them the Golden Rule—“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.”—Jesus shows the disciples the way to live day to day in this life. In the analogy of the narrow gate and the broad road, Jesus guides the disciples to the way that leads to the fullness of God’s love and glory. Choosing the narrow gate of salvation—to imitate Christ today and every day—is not easy, but it is the only path that leads to eternal life.

God, as the day unfolds, I will have brought before me more paths than I can choose and more decisions heaped on me than I wish to make. Help me today find the narrow gate that leads to life. I want to remember throughout the day that you are with me. I think of part of the prayer known as Saint Patrick’s Breastplate: “Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left.” Give me the grace today to stay within the confines of Christ as I move forward through the day.

From the Gospel acclamation: “I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples: “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”

Jesus speaks to the disciples in today’s Gospel about judging others. It is not altogether wrong to acknowledge the faults of others. However, he calls attention to judgment that is arrogant and self-righteous while ignoring one’s own flaws. Jesus calls those who judge in this way hypocrite. One’s own serious faults need to be addressed and corrected first before addressing the minor flaws—the splinter—of others. “Stop judging,” Jesus says, “that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.” Be merciful to others, Jesus teaches, just as God is merciful to us.

God, help me make sense of today’s Gospel in light of the people I encounter. Judgmental by habit, I ask you for the grace to see how judgment binds me; fault-finding by nature, I ask for your mercy, despite my own faults. Work through me, Lord, so that I can remain in you and end any division that would keep me from staying close to my brother. Help me see myself and others clearly so that I can do your work.

Be with me today, Lord; let me be a means of your kindness. From the Gospel acclamation: “The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to the Twelve: “Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.”

As Jesus prepares the Twelve for courage under persecution in proclaiming the Gospel, he strengthens them with his words and assures them of God’s assistance and sure hand. As Jeremiah says in the first reading, “But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.” Not once or twice does Jesus tell the apostles not to be afraid; three times he tells them. What there is to fear, he tells them, is this: “And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” What, then, is there to fear when God goes before us?

God, help me call to mind your goodness throughout the day and give thanks for the strength you give to me when I am faint of heart. Give me the courage to acknowledge you in the name of your Son and proclaim loudly what he whispered in darkness to the apostles. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus says. Help me testify to you, Lord, who are truth itself.

From the Gospel acclamation: “The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord; and you also will testify.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W-KSOPWWBY