Category: Prayers

“Greetings from Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called…” –Romans 1:1 Mass Readings: October 16 First: Romans 1:1-7; Resp: Psalm 98:1-4; Gospel: Luke 11:29-32 Listen to the Mass Readings Paul was very conscious of being “called to be an apostle” (Rm 1:1). He was also quite aware that he was writing to those “called to belong to Jesus Christ” (Rm 1:6) and “called to holiness, grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rm 1:7). Being called was so important to the early Church that the root meaning of the word we translate “church” is “the...

“He will destroy death forever.” –Isaiah 25:8 Mass Readings: October 15 First: Isaiah 25:6-10; Resp: Psalm 23:1-6; Second: Philippians 4:12-14,19-20; Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14 Listen to the Mass Readings Fifteen years ago this week, I received a phone call informing me that Father Al Lauer, founder and long-time author of One Bread, One Body, died. Father Al had been suffering from cancer of the liver. That same morning, Mass was celebrated in Father’s bedroom. The Word of God came to life in that Mass as today’s Scripture readings, which were also proclaimed in 2002 in the repeating Sunday liturgical cycle, proclaimed...

“Blest are they who hear the word of God and keep it.” –Luke 11:28 Mass Readings: October 14 First: Joel 4:12-21; Resp: Psalm 97:1-2,5-6,11-12; Gospel: Luke 11:27-28 Listen to the Mass Readings A woman exclaimed that Mary was blessed by being the mother of Jesus (Lk 11:27). Jesus replied that those “who hear the Word of God and keep it” are more greatly blessed. Many of us have been blessed with good health, great wealth, many children, beautiful families, fame, exceptional intelligence, success in business, power, abundant possessions, or countless other blessings. Nevertheless, none of these blessings can compare with...

“Knock and it shall be opened to you.” –Luke 11:9 Mass Readings: October 12 First: Malachi 3:13-20; Resp: Psalm 1:1-4,6; Gospel: Luke 11:5-13 Listen to the Mass Readings We are accustomed to thinking we are the ones knocking and God is the One Who is not answering. In reality, God is the One knocking at the door of our heart (see Rv 3:20). We are like the man inside the house in today’s Gospel passage (Lk 11:7); we tend to not want to get up out of bed for morning Mass or prayer. In truth, even the most hardened sinner...

“I would be better off dead than alive.” –Jonah 4:8 Mass Readings: October 11 First: Jonah 4:1-11; Resp: Psalm 86:3-6,9-10; Gospel: Luke 11:1-4 Listen to the Mass Readings Jonah prayed: “And now, Lord, please take my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live” (Jon 4:3). Jonah wanted to die because a worm killed his shade tree and left him uncomfortably hot (Jon 4:6-8). In effect, Jonah said: “Give me comfort or give me death.” Jonah also wanted to die because the Lord forgave the Ninevites (Jon 4:1) instead of punishing them. These two...