Category: Prayers

“[Joseph] did as the angel of the Lord had directed him.” –Matthew 1:24 Mass Readings: March 19 First: 2 Samuel 7:4-5,12-14,16; Resp: Psalm 89:2-5,27,29; Second: Romans 4:13,16-18,22; Gospel: Matthew 1:16,18-21,24 Listen to the Mass Readings St. Joseph often found himself enmeshed in a series of unexpected circumstances. First, God became Lord of His marriage in a way no man could ever have imagined. Then, like a common refugee, Joseph was turned away from decent accommodations when he and Mary most needed them, at the moment of Jesus’ birth (Lk 2:7). Then, during a dark night, he had to flee from...

“I – once I am lifted up from earth – will draw all men to Myself.” –John 12:32 The Lord promised us a new covenant (Jer 31:31). Jesus called it the covenant in His blood (Mt 26:28). Jesus “became the Source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him” by learning “obedience from what He suffered” (Heb 5:9, 8). “Unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, it produces much fruit” (Jn 12:24). Once Jesus was lifted up on the cross, He began to draw all...

“Yet I, like a trusting lamb led to slaughter, had not realized that they were hatching plots against me.” –Jeremiah 11:19 Mass Readings: March 17 First: Jeremiah 11:18-20; Resp: Psalm 7:2-3,9-12; Gospel: John 7:40-53 Listen to the Mass Readings Two weeks from today is Holy Saturday and Easter Vigil. Spiritual warfare may well intensify as we near the time to renew our baptismal promises. This renewal is the culmination of Lent and the center of the year. Because of this renewal’s strategic importance, the devil rages as we prepare to reject him, all his works, and all his empty promises....

“Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.” –Wisdom 2:20 If we want to live a godly life, we will be persecuted (2 Tm 3:12). We don’t know the severity of this persecution, but we do know the certainty of it. Although many non-Christians pride themselves on being tolerant, they will probably not tolerate Christians, for we are obnoxious to them (Wis 2:12). They think we are setting ourselves against their doings, reproaching them “for transgressions of the law,” charging them with violations of their training, and censuring...

“How can you believe?” –John 5:47 Mass Readings: March 15 First: Exodus 32:7-14; Resp: Psalm 106:19-23; Gospel: John 5:31-47 Listen to the Mass Readings In a little over two weeks, we will be asked six questions. We have been praying and fasting for about thirty days in preparation for answering these questions and making this greatest of all decisions. These are the most challenging and important questions we have ever been or will ever be asked. On Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday, at every Mass in every Catholic Church in the world, we will be invited to renew our baptismal...