Category: Prayers

“Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard, and the orchard be regarded as a forest! On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.” –Isaiah 29:17-18 Mass Readings: December 2 First: Isaiah 29:17-24; Resp: Psalm 27:1,4,13-14; Gospel: Matthew 9:27-31 The word from today’s eucharistic readings is “transformations.” Tyrants who oppress their subjects “will be no more” and the arrogant who torment their neighbors “will have gone” (Is 29:20; see also Rv 18:2; Is 37:36-38). The deaf hear. The blind see. Lebanon, a nation known...

“It did not collapse; it had been solidly set on rock.” —Matthew 7:25 Mass Readings: December 1 First: Isaiah 26:1-6; Resp: Psalm 118:1,8-9,19-21,25-27; Gospel: Matthew 7:21,24-27 Every Realtor knows that the future value of a house is based upon its present location. Likewise, Jesus teaches that the future of our lives is based upon our location. We are to build our lives upon every word that comes from the mouth of Jesus (Mt 4:4). If we make Jesus’ words our home (Jn 8:31, JB) and put His words into practice (Mt 7:24), we will build our lives upon the unshakable...

“A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse.” –Isaiah 11:1 Mass Readings: November 29 First: Sirach 44:1,10-15; Resp: Psalm 24:1-6; Gospel: Mark 10:17-21 A stump is what is left over from what was formerly a living, thriving tree. But the tree was either cut down or died and fell over. All that remains is a stump, which is the wood of death. In the world of forestry, however, some trees are known as “stump-sprouters.” These trees, such as the American chestnut, actually sprout from their stumps. For these trees, new life sprouts from the wood of death. Jesus was...

“The fruit of the earth will be honor…when the Lord…purges Jerusalem’s blood from her midst.” –Isaiah 4:2, 4 Mass Readings: November 28 First: Isaiah 4:2-6; Resp: Psalm 122:1-9; Gospel: Matthew 8:5-11 As we begin Advent, the Church presents us with a series of mind-boggling prophecies from the prophet Isaiah. These prophecies paint a picture of restoration more glorious than anything we could ask for or imagine (Eph 3:20), a restoration fashioned by the coming Messiah, the Branch of the Lord (Is 4:2). As this is being written, Jerusalem is bloody with the aftermath of a series of suicide bombers in...