Tagged: Prayer Intention

“It immediately fell in and was completely destroyed.” —Luke 6:49 Nineteen years ago yesterday, terrorists hijacked airplanes and flew them into the Twin Towers in New York City. Three thousand people died horrible deaths, and many people turned to the Lord in prayer. Prayers flooded electronic mail systems. Churches were full of anguished people who instinctively turned to God in prayer. People cried out “Lord, Lord” (Lk 6:46). How many people who turned to God nineteen years ago are still seeking Him today? Jesus is merciful, and He will never reject anyone who comes to Him (Jn 6:37). What Jesus...

Jesus “used images in speaking to them: ‘Can a blind man act as guide to a blind man?’ ” –Luke 6:39 Jesus noted the obvious: a blind person can’t lead a blind person. This can be applied spiritually. Those “blinded by the god of the present age” (2 Cor 4:4) disqualify themselves from being effective leaders in the secular world and especially in the Christian community. The blinding god of the present age is materialism, secular humanism, and the self-centered lifestyle. If we don’t let ourselves be crucified to this pleasure-seeking way of life (see Gal 6:14), then we cannot...

“Love your enemies.” –Luke 6:27 Jesus commanded His followers: “To you who hear Me, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Lk 6:27). A few verses later, Jesus repeated: “Love your enemy and do good” (Lk 6:35). This may be the use of the literary device called an inclusion. Ancient texts had no paragraphs. An inclusion is one way the author could indicate when the treatment of a subject begins and ends. The use of an inclusion greatly affects the interpretation of these verses. Jesus may be commanding us to show our love to our...

“The world as we know it is passing away.” –1 Corinthians 7:31 The Israelites in the desert preferred the food of slavery rather than the food of freedom (Nm 11:5). It was apparently easier for God to get the Israelites physically out of Egypt than it was to get Egypt out of Israel, that is to detach the Israelites from their attachment to the benefits and foods they had while they were slaves in Egypt. Is anything holding you bound so that you cannot follow God? Ask Him to break those chains and set you free. Ask Jesus for the...

“It was of her that Jesus Who is called the Messiah was born.” —Matthew 1:16 We are Christians. We love Jesus. We love everything about Jesus. We love what He loves and treasure what He treasures. We love His mother Mary, His foster-father Joseph, His grandparents, and all His ancestors (Mt 1:1ff). We love all Jesus’ adopted brothers and sisters, because Jesus loves them. Because we are Christians, we are born again, “begotten from above” (Jn 3:3). We received a new birth through the waters of baptism (Ti 3:5). We are “born of the Spirit” (see Jn 3:8). We’ve been...