Tagged: Prayers in English

BATH AND BODY

“She decided to bathe.” —Daniel 13:15 Mass Readings: April 3 First: Acts 4:13-21; Resp: Psalm 118:1,14-21; Gospel: Mark 16:9-15 Today’s first reading is more than a story of good triumphing over evil. It’s an Old Testament preview of Baptism. When Susanna enters her bath (Dn 13:17-18), she is surrounded by the powers of evil, as represented by the two corrupt elders. Susanna is immersed in a dilemma of whether to save her life by yielding to evil or to cling to holiness and purity at the cost of her life (Dn 13:22). Susanna rises from her bath determined to trust...

THE ULTIMATE RESURRECTION

“If the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then He Who raised Christ from the dead will bring your mortal bodies to life also, through His Spirit dwelling in you.” —Romans 8:11 Mass Readings: April 2 First: Acts 4:1-12; Resp: Psalm 118:1-2,4,22-27; Gospel: John 21:1-14 Ezekiel prophesied that God’s people would have a spiritual resurrection, that is, repentance and conversion (Ez 37:12ff). Jesus gave Lazarus a physical resurrection (Jn 11:44). The Father and the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead not only in spirit but also in body. Jesus’ Resurrection was not for...

CHRISTIANS HAVE MORE THAN NINE LIVES

“Let us destroy the tree in its vigor; let us cut him off from the land of the living.” —Jeremiah 11:19 Mass Readings: April 1 First: Acts 3:11-26;Resp: Psalm 8:2,5-9; Gospel: Luke 24:35-48 The Lord informed Jeremiah (Jer 11:18) “of the evil done by the house of Israel and by the house of Judah” (Jer 11:17). Yet Jeremiah did not realize “that they were hatching plots against” him (Jer 11:19). Like Jeremiah, we know we live in a culture of death. We know that sin is not only committed but glorified. We even know that we have enemies and persecutors....

A TRIED STONE (see Is 28:16)

“Many are the troubles of the just man, but out of them all the Lord delivers him.” –Psalm 34:20 Mass Readings: March 31 First: Acts 3:1-10; Resp: Psalm 105:1-4,6-9; Gospel: Luke 24:13-35 Our trials, rather than being wasted time and experiences that keep us from being fruitful for Jesus, are actually a means to purify us and make us more fruitful disciples. “There is cause for rejoicing here. You may for a time have to suffer the distress of many trials; but this is so that your faith, which is more precious than the passing splendor of fire-tried gold, may...

“THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE” (Jn 6:68)

“Search the Scriptures.” –John 5:39 Mass Readings: March 30 First: Acts 2:36-41; Resp: Psalm 33:4-5,18-20,22; Gospel: John 20:11-18 You are reading this book, One Bread, One Body, to “search the Scriptures in which you think you have eternal life” (Jn 5:39). You are right in your belief that the Scriptures will lead you to eternal life. “These [things] have been recorded to help you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, so that through this faith you may have life in His name” (Jn 20:31). “If you believed Moses,” that is, the first part of the Bible,...