Tagged: Prayers in English

“I never knew you. Out of My sight, you evildoers.” –Matthew 7:23 Some of the Jews in exile in Babylon didn’t know God in relationship (see 2 Kgs 24:14ff), and so they didn’t change their lives as they might have had they been in a loving relationship with Him. They knew some information about God, but they didn’t know Him. Because the book of the law had been “lost” in the Temple for many years (see 2 Kgs 22:8ff), many of these Jews did not even know the basic facts about God. Learning facts about Jesus is important, but catechesis,...

“I have found the book of the law in the temple of the Lord.” –2 Kings 22:8 If we find the Word of God, it is a life-changing event. Jeremiah exclaimed: “When I found Your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart” (Jer 15:16). By finding God’s Word, we do not mean finding a copy of the Bible or parts of the Bible as Hilkiah did. We mean finding God’s Word from the Church and her Scriptures “not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God” (1...

“Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; then he went up to the temple of the Lord, and spreading it out before Him, he prayed in the Lord’s presence.” –2 Kings 19:14-15 King Hezekiah received a letter from Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, threatening the total destruction of Judah if Hezekiah did not unconditionally surrender. Many of us have also received letters, faxes, e-mail, text messages, or memos containing devastating news. Some have received letters from attorneys in which their spouses have announced that they are suing for divorce. Many have received forms from...

“If you want to avoid judgment…” –Matthew 7:1 “If you want to avoid judgment, stop passing judgment” on others’ character and motives (Mt 7:1). If we judge others’ character and motives, we will have the same verdict passed on us (Mt 7:2). “If you want to avoid judgment,” repent of your own sins, and then help others repent (Mt 7:5). If we want to avoid judgment, we must forgive those who have sinned against us. Otherwise, we will not be forgiven (Mt 6:15), and we will be in no position to help others reconcile to the Lord. In summary, to...

“[John] made his public appearance in Israel.” –Luke 1:80 At a recent Mass, the priest revealed his dream during the homily. He wants to see an annual award, called the St. John the Baptist Courage Award. He envisioned that it would be awarded to that Catholic bishop who has most courageously spoken out for the cause of pro-life. The “trophy” would be a silver platter, symbolizing both the courage St. John the Baptist displayed in continuously speaking out against Herod’s public adultery (Mk 6:18) and his resulting imprisonment and execution (Mk 6:28). Such an award would be yet another encouragement...