Category: Prayers

Mary and Joseph “brought Him up to Jerusalem so that He could be presented to the Lord.” —Luke 2:22 The Jewish practice of presenting a child to the Lord stems from the concept that the child truly belongs to God. According to the law of Moses, the husband and wife present their first-born child to the Lord, thus acknowledging God as the Author and Owner of the life of this child (see Ex 13:2; Lv 12:6-8). Along with presenting their child, the couple also presents a sacrifice, a kind of payment, in this case a pair of doves, and God...

“Since you have utterly spurned the Lord by this deed, the child born to you must surely die.” —2 Samuel 12:14 We need Nathans and John the Baptizers to prophesy to a society wallowing in sexual sin. We don’t hear much talk about the sins of adultery and fornication, but only about the so-called, “new sins” of getting sexually transmitted diseases or getting pregnant. We used to hear about grace to overcome sexual temptations. Now we hear about condoms so as to be overcome by temptations. Who will stand not only for purity, but sanity? Who will speak of repentance...

“Uriah the Hittite died.” —2 Samuel 11:17 God’s just law prescribed “life for life” (Ex 21:23), that is, David’s death in punishment for arranging Uriah’s death. However, God is “rich in mercy” (Eph 2:4). Therefore, God mercifully told David that He forgave his sin and promised that David would not die (2 Sm 12:13). Later, God restored David’s happiness and blessed him abundantly. This is great news for all sinners, especially for those who have committed sexual sins. Yet where is the mercy and justice for Uriah and for those like him who innocently suffer the consequences of the sins...

“In the measure you give you shall receive, and more besides.” —Mark 4:24 If we hear God’s Word and accept it, we will bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold (Mk 4:20). Why do some Christians bear great fruit while others produce little fruit? God gives each of us different mission fields, which produce different yields. God gives us different charisms, supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, which can significantly increase our yield (1 Cor 12:4ff). Some Christians put the lamp of God’s Word (see Ps 119:105) on taller lampstands so as to give light to all. Lampstands are...

“To you the mystery of the reign of God has been confided.” —Mark 4:11 Throughout the history of the Church, the Holy Spirit has made many Christians holy by leading them to pray the Mass frequently or daily. However, when daily communicants didn’t appear that holy, the practice of daily Mass waned, and the Church weakened. Many of you reading this book pray the Mass daily or at least frequently. If your holy Masses make you holy, the practice of daily Mass will grow, and the Church will become stronger. If, however, you are not holy, a de-emphasis of daily...