Category: Prayers

“In any question of wisdom or prudence which the king put to them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom.” —Daniel 1:20 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were “ten times better” than the best of Babylon. It is one thing to be ten times greater than the average or the good. However, it’s astounding to be ten times greater than the “all-star team.” What was the secret to exceptional greatness for the four Jewish young men? They were obedient to the Jewish kosher food laws, and this was only an example of...

“There was an inscription over His head: ‘THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.’ ” —Luke 23:38 When we acknowledge that Jesus is our King, we imply that we are His subjects. It is so difficult for us to be subjects, for when we pray “Thy kingdom come,” that means His will, not ours, is to be done (see Mt 6:10). When we enthrone Jesus as our King, we must necessarily dethrone ourselves. It is even more challenging for a citizen of the USA to be a subject. Our country is founded on the rejection of subjection to the King...

“God is not the God of the dead but of the living. All are alive for Him.” —Luke 20:38 Throughout the course of my priesthood, I have preached and taught many times today’s Gospel readings on the resurrection. But yesterday the promise of this revelation meant more to me than ever before. I read it at the bedside of my dying father. Jesus promises that His faithful disciples “become like angels and are no longer liable to death. Sons of the resurrection, they are sons of God” (Lk 20:36). We know that Jesus will keep His promise to raise His...

“Now that our enemies have been crushed, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it.” —1 Maccabees 4:36 Don’t you think you’d better clean house? There are some closets in your heart that haven’t been cleaned out for years. The film of sin has given your life a dingy appearance. And there’s the trash you’ve been thinking of taking out, but never got around to it. I have good news for you. Jesus will handle your trash. He will cleanse the temple of your body and make it a house of prayer (Lk 19:45-46). Jesus will wash...

“Most admirable and worthy of everlasting remembrance was the mother…” —2 Maccabees 7:20 It’s likely that Mary, Our Lady of Presentation, knew the story of the Jewish mother and her seven martyred sons (2 Mc 7:1-41). Note the similarities between these two heroic mothers: Both mothers educated their sons (2 Mc 7:27) and gave them examples of extraordinary faith. Both displayed to their sons remarkable bravery based on an unshakable hope in the Lord (2 Mc 7:14). Both watched their sons die brutal deaths for their faith in God (2 Mc 7:20; Jn 19:25), yet each “bore it courageously because...