Category: Daily Prayer

“Give to the poor.” –Matthew 19:21 Mass Readings: August 21 First: Judges 2:11-19; Resp: Psalm 106:34-37,39-40,43-44; Gospel: Matthew 19:16-22 Listen to the Mass Readings Jesus commanded a young man: “Go, sell your possessions, and give to the poor” (Mt 19:21). Jesus came to preach the Good News to the poor (Lk 4:18). Jesus was poor (2 Cor 8:9), loves the poor, and expects us to make great sacrifices for the poor. At his conversion, Zacchaeus realized this and said: “I give half my belongings, Lord, to the poor” (Lk 19:8). The early Church also understood Jesus’ emphasis on sacrificing for...

“Jesus then said in reply, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your wish will come to pass.’ That very moment her daughter got better.” –Matthew 15:28 The Lord wants to say to us as He said to the Canaanite woman: “You have great faith.” Faith and great faith are graces from God. The grace of great faith has been accepted in many ways, especially through testings. “You may for a time have to suffer the distress of many trials; but this is so that your faith, which is more precious than the passing splendor of fire-tried gold, may by its genuineness...

“We will serve the Lord, our God, and obey His voice.” –Joshua 24:24 Mass Readings: August 19 First: Joshua 24:14-29; Resp: Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-8,11; Gospel: Matthew 19:13-15 Listen to the Mass Readings Joshua and millions of other parents have proclaimed throughout the centuries: “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Jos 24:15). When the people responded to Joshua that they too were going to serve the Lord, Joshua questioned whether they could do it. “Joshua in turn said to the people, ‘You may not be able to serve the Lord’ ” (Jos 24:19). Serving the Lord is...

“I now say to you, whoever divorces his wife (lewd conduct is a separate case) and marries another commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” –Matthew 19:9 Because Jesus is God: His death on the cross has saved all people from their sins (see Ti 2:14). He has risen from the dead and will raise us from the dead (see Rm 1:4). He will come again to take us with Him (Jn 14:3). He has superseded the Old Testament and has forbidden divorce (Mt 19:7-8ff). He gives those celibate for God’s kingdom the power to...

“This is how you will know that there is a living God in your midst.” –Joshua 3:10 Mass Readings: August 17 First: Joshua 3:7-11,13-17; Resp: Psalm 114:1-6; Gospel: Matthew 18:21–19:1 Listen to the Mass Readings Our God is living. He is present. He acts. He shows He is living by expressing His love for us in tangible ways. All other so-called gods are “the handiwork of men. They have mouths but speak not; they have eyes but see not; they have ears but hear not; they have noses but smell not; they have hands but feel not; they have feet...