Tagged: Prayer in English
“Announce a year of favor from the Lord.” –Luke 4:19 Eighteen years ago Pope St. John Paul II closed the holy door and concluded the Great Jubilee. This did not mean that we are no longer jubilarians. Rather, it means that the greatest of all jubilees was over, and we should accept the grace for our lives to be perpetual jubilees. Jesus promised us this grace when He began His public ministry. The Spirit of the Lord was upon Him “to proclaim liberty to captives” and “to announce a year of favor from the Lord” (Lk 4:18, 19). Baptized into...
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“Reform your lives and believe in the gospel!” –Mark 1:15 Jesus began His public ministry proclaiming a direct command and challenge to everyone He saw. He proclaimed the need to repent and reform. The word for repent in this Gospel passage text is the Greek word metanoia. This word does not simply mean to be sorry for our sins, as appropriate as this is. The word means literally to turn around and go in the opposite direction. This repentance means to make a 180-degree turn in our lives if the direction in which we are traveling leads us away from...
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“The ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake, and the foundations from ages past you shall raise up; ‘Repairer of the breach,’ they shall call you, ‘Restorer of ruined homesteads.’ ” –Isaiah 58:12 Mass Readings: February 17 First: Isaiah 58:9-14; Resp: Psalm 86:1-6;Gospel: Luke 5:27-32 Listen to the Mass Readings If we fast this Lent in a way pleasing to the Lord (see Is 58:3-6), we will see the Lord do many miracles. For example, light will rise for us in the darkness (Is 58:10). The Lord will guide us always and give us “plenty even on the parched...
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“In the beginning was the Word; the Word was in God’s presence, and the Word was God.” –John 1:1 The Bible is the most unpredictable book ever written. The first words from God’s Word for the Christmas Day Mass are: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him Who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation” (Is 52:7). When everyone else is thinking about gaudy extravagance, God is talking about beautiful feet. These feet are beautiful because they bring the good news of peace (Is 52:7). After centuries of chaos, we can finally have shalom-peace,...
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“I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance.” –2 Samuel 7:10 Mass Readings: December 24 First: 2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-12,14,16; Resp: Psalm 89:2-5,27,29; Second: Romans 16:25-27; Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 Listen to the Mass Readings The Lord promised David rest from his enemies (2 Sm 7:11). This promise of peace was surprising since violence was David’s “claim to fame” (see 1 Sm 18:7). From cutting off Goliath’s head to setting up Uriah’s murder, David lived an extremely violent life. People must have laughed when they heard David was promised peace. Nevertheless, the promise at first...
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