Category: Prayer Intention

“Barnabas went off to Tarsus to look for [Paul].” –Acts 11:25 Whenever a lowly underdog needed an advocate, the apostle Barnabas stepped forward. Barnabas was a champion for those who needed a second chance. Barnabas took Paul under his protection when Paul risked his life to return to Jerusalem (see Acts 9:27). Barnabas introduced Paul to the apostles and spoke glowingly on Paul’s behalf. Without Barnabas’ intervention, those in Jerusalem would have “refused to believe that [Paul] was a disciple” at all (Acts 9:26), given Paul’s background of zealously persecuting disciples of Jesus. When the church in Antioch needed encouragement...

“…gazing around Him at those seated in the circle…” –Mark 3:34 Jesus came to earth as a Man, and His experience of family was the love flowing through the Holy Family (Lk 2:39-40) and, later, through His relatives (Mk 3:31-32). Jesus has an unimaginably rich family history. Today’s Gospel presents an abrupt diversion from Jesus’ family experience. Jesus gazes at the crowd seated in the circle around Him (Mk 3:34). These people are “hanging on His words” (Lk 19:48). They seek wisdom, healing, or words of direction from One greater than they (Lk 11:31-32). Suddenly the Master is interrupted by...

“I will always hope.” –Psalm 71:14 “The time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but, following their own desires, will surround themselves with teachers who tickle their ears. They will stop listening to the truth and will wander off to fables” (2 Tm 4:3-4). To such a people, “stubborn of brow and obstinate in heart” (Ez 3:7), God sends His disciples to proclaim and teach His “word, to stay with this task whether convenient or inconvenient – correcting, reproving, appealing – constantly teaching and never losing patience” (2 Tm 4:2). It seems like a no-win situation. Yet...

“They shall look on Him.” –John 19:37 I’m looking at a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Behind Jesus is a cloudy sky and some trees. The Sacred Heart occupies perhaps two percent of the area of the picture. Yet when I first look at the picture, all I see is His heart with so much love radiating from it. As I gaze more closely, I am captivated by Jesus, His outstretched, nail-scarred hands, and His inviting pose. Eventually I notice the background, which occupies over half of the picture’s area. Because the background is crafted so skillfully, it...

“Try hard to make yourself worthy of God’s approval, a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, following a straight course in preaching the truth.” –2 Timothy 2:15 A more exact translation of the end of the above verse is “rightly dividing the word of truth.” This means that we must interpret and teach God’s Word accurately. Without orthodox teaching, the faith of some people is upset (see 2 Tm 2:18), and we may even fall into “the devil’s trap” (2 Tm 2:26). Without orthodox teaching, whole families are upset (Ti 1:11), and many will be lured away from...