Last Sunday's homily is available by email request
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinCLetter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 4:00pm, 9:30am and 12:30pm on Sunday
There is something I want God to do for me!
The approach of the disciples to Jesus in this Sunday's Gospel does, oddly, sound like a lot of my prayers and maybe yours. In fact, I'm afraid for many people this petition or request or intercession is the only way that God is addressed.
I know that this doesn't sound that strange to a lot of parents. In fact I often hear folks say, "the only time that kid calls me is when he needs something." This "need-fulfillment" basis for a relationship is one that raises some serious questions about our prayer life.
I recently was asked by someone, "how do I know that God is talking to me?" After making sure the person wasn't hearing voices, I clarified the question and realized that what was really being asked is "how do I listen to God?" That is a refreshing approach to prayer - listening to God.
In last week's homily I was speaking about our attachment to the survival mode of living that makes it difficult to choose real life. Someone asked me during the week "how do I get out of the rat race and start living life?" My answer is this homily today. Being free from the survival mode of existence begins with our re-imagining who God is. And our prayer habits are the quickest way to understand who God is for us.
Like the disciples, the way we address God reveals what we think of God. I'm wondering if you would be able to create a "profile" of your God based upon your habit of praying. You say, "I don't pray at all outside of Mass"? That is certainly an understanding of God that says you don't need God in your life.
So, what is your habit of praying? What does that tell you about who God is in your world? Let's look at the prayer that Jesus taught us. What does that prayer tell us about who God was for Jesus? Could our God start to look more like Jesus' God? I bet we're all going to have to change the way we pray.
3 comments:
yes The Our Father, The Creed & the Hail Mary are the 3 most perfect prayers. My personal daily prayer in my words express what I believe & how I pray:
Daily Prayer of Faith
Father I thank you for this time that I have to spend with my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ (… in church, in meditation, in silence…here in this Eucharistic chapel before the Holy Monstrance of the Real Presence……..) in worship, adoration and prayer.
Father I praise you for all the blessings that have been granted to me in this life (my family, my home, my church…………..).
Father I pray that I may set aside and abandon all distractions, clutter,& all cares of life and any feelings of self-righteousness now during this time of prayer. I humbly submit myself & my life, as Christ humbled Himself, before you & to your divine plan.
Father I am not worthy of your love or forgiveness. I confess that I am a sinner. Born into sin, committing sin in my heart, in my mind, in my actions, as well as in the failed opportunities to share Christ’s love. I lay my sins at the altar of sacrifice which is the cross of Jesus the Lamb of God who take away the sins of the world.
Father I believe that your only son, Jesus Christ, suffered and died as an atonement for my sins, so that I may be reconciled with You, and by my repentance, baptism & acceptance of Jesus as Lord, & Redeemer, my sins have been forgiven. By His resurrection and ascension, I have the promise of life everlasting in Your Presence. I believe that Your Holy Spirit, dwelling in me gives me the power to proclaim with my mouth, believe in my heart and know with my mind that Jesus Christ is Lord & Savior of the world. I thank you that I am marked as a child of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit by this cross I proclaim.
Father may I empty myself to be filled with the daily bread which is the spiritual food and the Word made manifest with the Holy Spirit so that I may live in and share your divine love, allowing your will to be fulfilled in my life. May I wait and listen to Your voice , feel Your healing Presence, and trust in you.
Father I leave my burdens in your hands, hear my pleas, grant these petitions for your glory according to your will. Especially I ask that Your grace be granted for (“petitions”). Lord have mercy.
Father continue to guide me this day, this week and all the days of my life. May I listen to your voice as you lead me. Protect your church especially my family and lead all souls to heaven.
Our Lady of Fatima, Holy Mary Mother of God to protect and guide my family and intercede for all those pains and sufferings of daily life.
All this I pray in the name of my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Blessed are those who can hear God and see Him.
In second grade PSR we taught the kids how to pray using the acronym Altar.
Adoration/Awe
Love
Thanksgiving
Ask
Reparation/Resolution
I had never heard of this & had to learn what it was all about...second grade theology still works! We taught the Altar symbolizes Christ & the Altar IS Christ. We taught adoration as either wow & awesome, God you're so great & then to be quiet as when you see something beautiful or as you're sitting next to Mom or Dad & feeling their love. Love was tender words of love. The other three were obvious. We taught the prayer of praise as the Glory Be, oh God you are sooooo GREAT! Good training grounds for me then & to this day!!!
I have said to my husband if I would say 'thank you' from now till I died over & over it would not be enough. As we get into bed I sigh with the wonder of day's end & give happy sighs of tiredness & say thank you, thank you, thank you Lord, oh thank you, over & over.
I hope you will challenge people to pray by being silent & resting in the Lord, Father.
Wow, thank you, Lord! You are SOOOOOOOO incredibly GREAT, Glory to God in the highest!!!
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