Category: Prayers

“Will you not tell us what all these things that you are doing mean for us?” –Ezekiel 24:19 The actions of Ezekiel and Jesus in today’s Mass readings are shocking. They are prophetic statements meant to capture a person’s attention. In our secular culture, we are used to outlandish behavior and shocking statements. Grocery stores sell tabloid newspapers, and the typical headline uses the word “shocking.” News programs are on the watch for sound bites that grab our attention. After a while, we grow desensitized to these approaches, and we become shock-proof. Likewise, the rich young man and the people...

“Lord, Son of David, have pity on me! My daughter is terribly troubled by a demon.” –Matthew 15:22 Jesus delivered many people from demons. Sometimes He delivered children from demons (Mt 15:22; Mk 9:17ff). This raises the question: How can innocent children who could not have grievously sinned or been knowingly involved in the occult be possessed or troubled by demons? Children suffer innocently for the sins of their parents and the world. This suffering seems to include even harassment from the evil one. Sins committed by any of us can result in the severest form of child abuse: exposing...

“Let him accept this teaching who can.” –Matthew 19:12 God’s ways are not our ways (Is 55:9). His standards are so high above ours, yet His grace, so lavishly outpoured, is so high above our expectations as well. Living by God’s high standards of sexual purity is like walking on water. The temptations are so strong, especially in today’s secular culture, that most don’t even try to get out of the boat and attempt to walk on the water of a lifestyle of purity. Some people, however, are like Peter; they leave the boat and start walking toward Jesus on...

“I have made you a sign.” –Ezekiel 12:6 Radical forgiveness is a sign that amazes people. God asks Ezekiel to be a sign by performing a series of bizarre activities — going about blinded, walking aimlessly, acting as an exile. These behaviors were commanded by God to attempt to shock the Israelites into examining the reality of their distance from God. A few weeks ago in the daily Mass readings, Jeremiah buried the loincloth (his underwear) in the rock in obedience to God’s command. Weeks later, when God directed him to retrieve the loincloth, it was wormy, rotted full of...