Category: Prayers

“What profit would a man show if he were to gain the whole world and destroy himself in the process?” –Matthew 16:26 Every human being wants to show a profit. Most try to save their lives by taking control of things, working hard, and making things happen. That’s what the people of Nineveh did. They raised up great armies and undertook monumental campaigns. By human standards it appeared they were showing a profit, but it turned out just the opposite. The end result for Nineveh was: “Everyone who sees you runs from you, saying, ‘Nineveh is destroyed; who can pity...

“Keep your attention closely fixed on it, as you would on a lamp shining in a dark place.” –2 Peter 1:19 The Transfiguration shows our future, what will happen to us if we are truly faithful followers of the Lord. We are destined to a divine life if we “listen to Him” and heed His words (see Mk 9:7). God plans to make us “sharers of the divine nature” (2 Pt 1:4). If we remain in Jesus to the end of our life, when Christ appears, “we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1...

“Jesus then said in reply, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your wish will come to pass.’ ” –Matthew 15:28 Jesus told only one person in the Gospels that she had great faith. Although I am sure Mary, Joseph, and others had great faith, the Canaanite woman was the only person mentioned in the Gospels to have been told by Jesus: “You have great faith!” (Mt 15:28) Pope St. John Paul II maintained that the primary reason for the various crises in our world is the crisis of faith. Under these circumstances, I would expect that the Lord is raising up...

“When I summon him, he shall approach Me; how else should one take the deadly risk of approaching Me? says the Lord.” –Jeremiah 30:21 The Lord has frequently summoned us to approach Him. In fact, He approached us in an unthinkable way through His Incarnation. He even gives Himself to us in Holy Communion. Because the Lord has given us the opportunity to become so intimate with Him, we may forget what a privilege it is to be in His presence and how awesome it is “to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb 10:31). We may sometimes...

“Jesus at once stretched out His hand and caught him.” –Matthew 14:31 When my children were just learning to swim, I would have them hold onto the side of the pool. Then I would back up a few steps and hold my arms out toward them, calling them to swim to me. We would repeat this many times, and I would sometimes step a few inches farther back to get them to swim longer and build their confidence. But sometimes they would panic and begin to sink. It was easy to stretch out my hands and catch them each time....