Tagged: Prayer Intention

GIFTED CLASS

“This I seek…” –Psalm 27:4 Before Jesus healed the blind men in today’s Gospel, they had the gift of faith (Mt 9:28). After they received sight from Jesus, they disobeyed His orders to keep the healing secret. Instead, the formerly blind men spread word of Jesus “through the whole area” (Mt 9:31) before Jesus was ready for that to happen. On another occasion, Jesus healed a leper (Mk 1:41) who also had humility and faith. Once healed, this leper likewise disobeyed Jesus’ order to keep the healing secret (Mk 1:44). He went off and spread the report abroad with the...

BUILDING LIVES, YEARS, AND CHRISTMAS

“Anyone who hears My words and puts them into practice is like the wise man who built his house on rock.” –Matthew 7:24 Jesus, being a carpenter, thinks in terms of building. For instance, He thinks that life is like building a house. Our lives must be founded on Him, the Rock-Foundation (1 Cor 3:11), or they will collapse under the stress of the storms of life (Mt 7:26-27). We found our lives unshakably on Christ by hearing and obeying His words (Mt 7:24). This new Church year also is like building a house. If we establish and strengthen our...

NOT WELFARE, BUT WELL-FARE

“He took the seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks He broke them and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. All ate until they were full.” –Matthew 15:36-37 Today’s Scripture readings all foreshadow the blessed feast which is celebrated at Mass in Holy Communion. The rich feast (Is 25:6) celebrated at the banquet table (see Ps 23:5) to nourish the multitudes (Mt 15:38) is the Eucharist we receive at every Mass. The word “Eucharist” even means “to give thanks.” The thanksgiving described in today’s Scripture readings is not just saying “Gee,...

CHILDLIKE, BLESSED EYES

“Blest are the eyes that see what you see.” –Luke 10:23 Much of the world has already started to celebrate Christmas, but we Christians are still waiting. We are observing the season of Advent. We are not jumping ahead of the Lord, but waiting for His coming by preparing our hearts. What do we hear from the world? We hear that Christmas is a season for children; innocent, delighted children are often pictured on “holiday” commercials. This is true for Christians as well. We are to become as children, innocently waiting with delight for the Child Jesus to come into...

“THE NAME ABOVE EVERY OTHER NAME” (PHIL 2:9)

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ––Romans 10:13 Most of us reading this are baptized Catholics. Once a year, at Easter, we have the remarkable opportunity to renew our baptismal promises. In this way, we “confess with” our “lips that Jesus is Lord” (see Rm 10:9). But if this confession is not founded upon heartfelt belief, our words ring hollow. In addition, salvation is not a onetime event. We must persevere, exercising the virtue of fortitude. “The man who holds out to the end, however, is the one who will see salvation” (Mt 24:13)....