Category: Prayers

“He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together.” –Jeremiah 31:10 Mass Readings: April 8 First: Acts 5:27-33;Resp: Psalm 34:2,9,17-20;Gospel: John 3:31-36 Jesus died on the cross “to gather into one all the dispersed children of God” (Jn 11:52). He is praying that we be one as He and the Father are one (Jn 17:21). Jesus makes us one by His being lifted up on the cross, in the Resurrection and the Ascension, to the right hand of the Father. Then He draws us to Himself, as He promised: “I – once I am lifted up from earth – will draw...

“You Who are only a man are making Yourself God.” –John 10:33 Mass Readings: April 7 First: Acts 5:17-26; Resp: Psalm 34:2-9; Gospel: John 3:16-21 In the Gospel of John, Jesus claims that He is God. He says: “The Father and I are one” (Jn 10:30). He uses the phrase “I AM” to refer to Himself (Jn 8:24, 28, 58), and that phrase is God’s name as revealed to Moses (Ex 3:14). When the Jewish leaders accused Jesus of making Himself God, Jesus was presented with the perfect opportunity to clarify exactly Who He was (Jn 10:33). Jesus’ life was...

“When Abram prostrated himself, God continued to speak to him.” –Genesis 17:3 Mass Readings: April 6 First: Acts 4:32-37; Resp: Psalm 93:1-2,5;Gospel: John 3:7-15 Will you let the Lord say anything to you, even if you don’t understand it or if it seems “too good to be true”? If today you hear His voice, is your heart hardened or opened? (Ps 95:7-8) The Lord wishes we would listen to Him. He pleads: “If only My people would hear Me…” (Ps 81:14). One week from today will be the last day of Lent. Throughout Lent, the Lord has been preparing us...

“When you lift up the Son of Man…” –John 8:28 Mass Readings: April 4 First: Acts 5:12-16;Resp: Psalm 118:2-4,13-15,22-24;Second: Revelation 1:9-13,17-19;Gospel: John 20:19-31 When the Son of Man is lifted up, Jesus will draw all people to Himself (Jn 12:32) so that they may realize that He is God (Jn 8:28), believe that He is Healer, and receive eternal life (Jn 3:14-15). Lifting up Jesus unleashes a life-changing, parish-changing, and world-changing sequence of events. Therefore, we must devote ourselves to ensuring that Jesus is constantly being lifted up. How is Jesus lifted up? He is lifted up: on His cross....

“She decided to bathe.” —Daniel 13:15 Mass Readings: April 3 First: Acts 4:13-21; Resp: Psalm 118:1,14-21; Gospel: Mark 16:9-15 Today’s first reading is more than a story of good triumphing over evil. It’s an Old Testament preview of Baptism. When Susanna enters her bath (Dn 13:17-18), she is surrounded by the powers of evil, as represented by the two corrupt elders. Susanna is immersed in a dilemma of whether to save her life by yielding to evil or to cling to holiness and purity at the cost of her life (Dn 13:22). Susanna rises from her bath determined to trust...