Category: Memory Verse

PRAYING ON THE EDGE

“When I called, You answered me; You built up strength within me.” –Psalm 138:3 Mass Readings: March 9 First: Ezekiel 47:1-9,12; Resp: Psalm 46:2-3,5-6,8-9; Gospel: John 5:1-16 Queen Esther’s whole race was scheduled to be exterminated. The Jewish people were so pitifully weak that they couldn’t do anything politically or militantly to stop the genocide. They had “their backs to the wall.” They were alone and had no help but God (Est C:14). So Esther, on behalf of her people, prayed: “Save us by Your power, and help me, who am alone and have no one but You, O Lord”...

MILLIONS CONVERT IN ONE DAY

“The people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.” –Jonah 3:5 Mass Readings: March 8 First: Isaiah 65:17-21; Resp: Psalm 30:2,4-6,11-13; Gospel: John 4:43-54 One-hundred-and-twenty-thousand very wicked people converted to the Lord in one day through a one-sentence prophecy from Jonah, a vengeful, reluctant prophet. And we “have a greater than Jonah here” (Lk 11:32). We have Jesus, the Savior of the world, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Son of God. In fact, not only is Jesus greater than Jonah, but each Christian is greater...

“WE DARE TO PRAY…”

“This is how you are to pray: ‘Our Father in heaven…’ ” –Matthew 6:9 Mass Readings: March 7 First: Joshua 5:9,10-12; Resp: Psalm 34:2-7; Second: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Gospel: Luke 15:1-3,11-32 The “Our Father” is not only a prayer but the Lord’s pattern for all authentic prayer. In the “Our Father,” the Lord teaches us how to pray. St. Augustine taught that the “Our Father” is not only the pattern of prayer but also the criterion for all authentic prayer intentions. Therefore, we should not pray for something unless it fits into the “Our Father.” St. Thomas Aquinas taught that...

A BIG “TO DO”

“You did it for Me.” –Matthew 25:40 Mass Readings: March 6 First: Hosea 6:1-6;Resp: Psalm 51:3-4,18-21;Gospel: Luke 18:9-14 What are we to do? Sometimes we “stand by idly when [our] neighbor’s life is at stake” (Lv 19:16). We can easily be remiss in serving the poor, hungry, thirsty, refugees, sick, and imprisoned (see Mt 25:42ff). Sometimes we do something, but it is the wrong “something.” We are busy about many things (Lk 10:41), but we may not have chosen the better part, that is, listening to Jesus (Lk 10:39, 42). We may do things at the wrong time. For example,...

THE VIEW FROM THE DESERT

“Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit.” –Matthew 4:1 Mass Readings: March 5 First: Hosea 14:2-10;Resp: Psalm 81:6-11,14,17;Gospel: Mark 12:28-34 In the stark desolation of the physical desert, you can: see clearly without distraction. live simply, in a “lean and mean” lifestyle. Only the basic necessities for survival are valuable. discern value clearly. We tend to overvalue the things the world affords (1 Jn 2:16). In the desert, a cup of water has far more value than a diamond necklace. In Lent, the Holy Spirit leads us into the desert to speak to our heart (Hos 2:16). This...