Category: Prayers

“Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves!” –Ezekiel 34:2 We see in today’s Gospel parable the effects of a shepherd pasturing himself. Some faithful laborers worked a full day in the Lord’s service, but at the end of the day, they focused on “what’s in it for me,” such as assuming they would get a greater reward (see Mt 20:10ff). This focus is understandable from a human viewpoint. But Jesus teaches that it’s not to be the focus of His disciples. If we fix our eyes on what we get rather than on what Jesus gets,...

“It is easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” –Matthew 19:24 Many of us are middle-class Americans and consequently are among the richest people in the world. Therefore, Jesus’ words apply to us: “I assure you, only with difficulty will a rich man enter into the kingdom of God” (Mt 19:23). Although there is nothing wrong with being rich (see Sir 31:8-11), Jesus indicated that it was almost impossible (Mt 19:26) not to grow haughty from our riches (Ez 28:5). In the book of Proverbs, Agur...

“There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud.” –Jeremiah 38:6 “No water, only mud” — is that a description of your life? Are you in a hole, sinking in the mud, starving to death spiritually? (see Jer 38:9) You need to add water to turn your mud into a mud puddle, and your mud puddle into a fountain of living waters (see Jn 4:14). Most of us have already received the life-giving waters of Baptism, but we should renew our baptismal promises. We have already done that on Easter Sunday, but maybe we...

“Children were brought to Him so that He could place His hands on them in prayer.” –Matthew 19:13 Jesus laid His hands on children and prayed for them. He holds children and the whole world in His hands. Jesus embraces us with His nail-scarred hands. Hands are for: praying, holding our spouses and children, embracing our brothers and sisters (see 1 Thes 5:26), disciplining children (see Prv 13:24), helping our neighbors, honoring (applauding) others, praising God (see Ps 134:2). Hands are not for expressing: anger, impurity, rejection. Our hands will be instruments of righteousness and not weapons for evil (Rm...