Category: Prayers

“Continually we carry about in our bodies the dying of Jesus.” –2 Corinthians 4:10 Mass Readings: July 25 First: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15; Resp: Psalm 126:1-6; Gospel: Matthew 20:20-28 Listen to the Mass Readings Although James and John wanted prosperity and success, Jesus wanted them to take up the cross (see Mt 20:22ff). Jesus invites us not only to suffer in the pattern of His death (Phil 3:10) but even to be crucified with Him (see Gal 2:19). Furthermore, He calls us to make the cross not only an occasional moment in our lives but to “continually…carry about in our bodies...

“Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the Lord will win for you today.” –Exodus 14:13 Mass Readings: July 24 First: Exodus 14:5-18; Resp: Exodus 15:1-6; Gospel: Matthew 12:38-42 Listen to the Mass Readings If we stand our ground, we will see the victory of the Lord, for He will fight for us (Ex 14:14). Moses made this promise before the Lord rescued the chosen people by drowning the Egyptians in the Red Sea. This is a symbol of Baptism. When we stand on the ground of our Baptism, we will see the Lord’s victory. We must stand...

“We do not know how to pray as we ought.” –Romans 8:26 Jesus said there is “the necessity of praying always and not losing heart” (Lk 18:1). We are to “never cease praying” (1 Thes 5:17). Jesus prayed early in the morning (Mk 1:35) and late at night (Lk 22:39-41). Because we are His disciples, we imitate Him and pray so much that we are in the spirit of prayer during all daily activities. Jesus continues to invite us to watch and pray at least one hour with Him (see Mt 26:40). Because we communicate with God in prayer, it...

“In His name, the Gentiles will find hope.” –Matthew 12:21 Mass Readings: July 22 First: Exodus 12:37-42; Resp: Psalm 136:1,23-24,10-15; Gospel: John 20:1-2,11-18 Listen to the Mass Readings As we begin the third millennium, with much of the world ensconced in the culture of death after ending the last with the only two world wars in history, the Lord is calling us to hope in Him. The Church through Pope Pius XII defined the doctrine of Mary’s Assumption in 1950. After all the centuries this doctrine was preached and believed, the Church chose to define it in 1950 as a...

“It is the Passover of the Lord.” –Exodus 12:11 Mass Readings: July 21 First: Wisdom 8:9-16;Resp: Psalm 67:2-5,7-8;Gospel: Luke 9:1-6 Listen to the Mass Readings Through the Passover, the Lord freed the Israelite nation from centuries of slavery. The Lord chose to do one of His greatest works through a family meal accompanied by prayer. This Passover meal was so important that it became “a memorial feast” to be celebrated by all generations “as a perpetual institution” (Ex 12:14). A few hours before Jesus died on the cross to save us all from sin and for eternal life, He said:...