Category: Prayers

“What if salt goes flat?…Then it is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” –Matthew 5:13 Mass Readings: February 5 First: Isaiah 58:7-10; Resp: Psalm 112:4-9; Second: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16 If you had a container of Morton’s salt which had lost its flavor, what would you do? You’d probably throw it in the garbage. I doubt if you would throw it on the ground and trample it underfoot. However, that is what Jesus said would be done to salt that has lost its flavor. Grinding salt into the ground was sometimes done in...

“Be content with what you have, for God has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I forsake you.’ ” –Hebrews 13:5 We live in a world of broken and hurting human relationships. Few of us are untouched by the effects of widespread divorce, unforgiveness, unfaithfulness, treachery, revenge, backstabbing, gossip, slander, and other problems stemming from interpersonal breakdowns. Those fortunate to have some deep friendships with Christian brothers and sisters still at times might endure the sting of a brushoff, a turned back, or a deaf ear from even the closest of friends. We may suffer from relationships to...

“Be content with what you have, for God has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I forsake you.’ ” –Hebrews 13:5 Mass Readings: February 3 First: Hebrews 13:1-8; Resp: Psalm 27:1,3,5,8-9; Gospel: Mark 6:14-29 We live in a world of broken and hurting human relationships. Few of us are untouched by the effects of widespread divorce, unforgiveness, unfaithfulness, treachery, revenge, backstabbing, gossip, slander, and other problems stemming from interpersonal breakdowns. Those fortunate to have some deep friendships with Christian brothers and sisters still at times might endure the sting of a brushoff, a turned back, or a deaf...

“Do not disdain the discipline of the Lord.” –Hebrews 12:5 Mass Readings: February 1 First: Hebrews 12:4-7,11-15;Resp: Psalm 103:1-2,13-14,17-18;Gospel: Mark 6:1-6 To fight against sin, we need to be so determined that we will die rather than sin (Heb 12:4). The Lord often gives us this grace of determination through discipline. This discipline will come in the form of “scourgings” (see Heb 12:6-7). Consequently, “at the time it is administered, all discipline seems a cause for grief and not for joy, but later it brings forth the fruit of peace and justice” (Heb 12:11). Therefore, “do not disdain the discipline...