Category: Prayers

“I do believe! Help my lack of faith!” –Mark 9:24, our transl. Mass Readings: May 21 First: James 3:13-18; Resp: Psalm 19:8-10,15; Gospel: Mark 9:14-29 Listen to the Mass Readings Jesus expected His disciples and the crowd to have faith so as to expel demons (see Mk 9:19). Jesus invited the father of a possessed son to have greater faith (see Mk 9:23). Jesus connects faith with prayer (Mk 9:29). Will you pray to have a greater faith? (see Lk 17:5) How much will you pray for greater faith? Will you pray a Holy Hour for nine days to obtain...

“Receive the Holy Spirit.” –John 20:22 Happy Pentecost! Happy birthday of the Church! Come, Holy Spirit! On this “last and greatest day of the festival,” Jesus continues to cry out: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me; let him drink who believes in Me. Scripture has it: ‘From within Him rivers of living water shall flow.’ (Here He was referring to the Spirit)” (Jn 7:37-39). The Holy Spirit will come to us and through us renew the face of the earth (Ps 104:30). The Spirit will make us witnesses for the risen Christ (see Acts 2:32). He will give...

“He preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ with full assurance and without any hindrance.” –Acts 28:31, our transl. Paul was under house arrest for two years in Rome (Acts 28:16, 30). Before that, he was in prison for two additional years (Acts 24:27). Prior to that, he was in prison several other times (see 2 Cor 11:23). Trial, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, and the sword made it very difficult for Paul to preach the Gospel (Rm 8:35). Nevertheless, the last word of Acts of the Apostles is that Paul “preached God’s kingdom with...

“Do you love Me?” –John 21:15, 16, 17 Mass Readings: May 18 First: Acts 2:44-47;Resp: Psalm 131:1-3;Gospel: Luke 12:22-31 Listen to the Mass Readings Simon Peter honestly believed that there was no reason to doubt that he loved Jesus. That’s why “Peter was hurt because [Jesus] had asked a third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ ” (Jn 21:17) Although Peter had denied Christ a few weeks before this encounter (see Lk 22:57ff), Peter assumed that this was no reason for Jesus to doubt Peter’s love for Him. Moreover, Peter had returned to the fishing business he was working in before...